Swim coach expects improved showing in distance events at Carifta
Published:Tuesday | March 29, 2022 | 12:10 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Swimming coach, Wendy Lee, is expecting a strong showing from the local swimmers in the longer distances at this year’s Carifta Swimming Championships which is set for April 16-20 in Barbados.
Lee said Jamaica has traditionally focused on sprint events and usually struggle in longer distances. However, this year she believes they have some outstanding talent in the longer distances and expectations are high.
“For the first time we have quality distance swimmers. We have four entrants in the 200 metres butterfly and that is always the hardest race. We also have four in the individual medley, also one of the hardest races and not something that we are traditionally good at,” she said.
“We are a sprint country. Fifty metres and 100m are what we are good at. So usually on the third day (at Carifta) when the 200m butterfly comes around, we usually falter. But this year we will be more prepared for the distance swims,” Lee said.
The distance swimmers include Charles McIntosh, Benjamin Davis, Zack Andre Johnson and Brady Lewinson in the 13-14 age category while Sabrina Lyn and Nathaniel Thomas will compete in the 15-16 category.
“Johnson does 200m butterfly and Lewinson, who won the gold medal in the 400m individual medley, is back and has actually given up sprint freestyle to concentrate on the 400m individual medley.
“Sabrina Lyn and Nathaniel Thomas will be doing the 200m which is a big step-up for them as they are sprinters originally. But this is their last year (at Carifta) and for them to take on the most challenging events and give it their all makes me proud of both of them,” she said.
She lamented, however, that the 11-12 age group has been inactive for two years and might fall short of expectation but she believes the team is good enough to maintain their top-three position.
“We have a very rounded team and that gives me the confidence to say we will be okay. The 11-12 kids were all champions at 10 and under at the Goodwill Games but they took a break for PEP, and immediately after PEP there was COVID-19. So they have been out of the water longer than everyone. Their way back has been very challenging because they missed the foundation years but because they were champions before I know they will do their very best,” she said.
“At the last championship we came third overall and for the last few years, we have been in the top four. Our athletes are 100 per cent committed and we will know when they get out the blocks if our best makes us the top team in the Caribbean or we still have work to do,” she added.