Stella Maris retain Burger King YMCA swim title

There was no stopping Stella Maris Prep School, which put in determined and stellar performances all round, to retain their Burger King/YMCA Prep and Primary Schools Swim title at the National Aquatic Centre last Friday.

Stella Maris tallied a massive 312 points to finish ahead of Immaculate Conception Prep, 267, while Sts Peter and Paul Prep were third with 212. Wolmer's Prep (193) were fourth with Hillel Academy Prep (173) rounding off the top five.

"Well, I am happy for the victory. This meet was really a meet used to expose our new talent. That objective was met and I am satisfied with their performance," Stella Maris head coach Krishna Rose said.

"Swimming is our flagship sport at Stella Maris. We have a very good curriculum programme, which basically feeds our swim team. It's the biggest in the country and we are happy for that," Rose told The Sunday Gleaner. They fielded 102 swimmers.

A total of 50 schools and 880 young swimmers between the ages of six and 12 competed at the meet.

 

15TH SEASON

 

The annual prep/primary schools showpiece event, which has discovered some of Jamaica's brightest swim stars, returned for its 15th season, under the patronage of highly decorated former national swimmer, Olympian Janelle Atkinson.

Meanwhile, meet director Kendis Nangle lauded an 'impressive meet', while praising sponsors, parents, teachers and Janelle Atkinson's show of support and giving back to the sport.

"The turnout was excellent. I think Burger King would be very happy," Nangle said. "We had a record number of swimmers, the performances were excellent, we had 21 individual records and eight relay records," Nangle noted, while remarking that the future of the sport looks bright.

 

Other sectional winners

 

 

Top five boys' teams (points)

 

Sts Peter and Paul Prep 142

Wolmer's Prep School 136

Stella Maris Prep 120

Hillel Academy Prep 115

St Hugh's Preparatory 85.50

 

Top five girls' teams (points)

 

Immaculate Prep 267

Stella Maris Prep 192

Mona Preparatory 87

Sts Peter and Paul Prep 70

Emmanuel Christian

Academy 61