Jamaica’s team manager Georgia Sinclair is already riding the wave of pride as the national swim team edges closer to rewriting history at the Carifta Aquatics Championships, currently underway at the National Aquatic Centre in Trinidad and Tobago.
With just one session of competition remaining in the pool on Tuesday, the Jamaicans find themselves in prime position to surpass their medal and points tally from last year’s championship—a goal Sinclair says the team has embraced with determination, discipline, and heart.
"This team is very talented and comprised of a lot of resilient youngsters,” Sinclair shared.
"Going into the final day, we’re just four medals away from equalling last year’s medal haul of 45, and we’ve already surpassed our 2023 points total of 559. We’re currently at 566.50 points and sitting second behind defending champions Bahamas. That alone is a huge accomplishment," she told SportsMax.TV.
The 15-17 boys show off one of their relay medals. (Photos: ASAJ)
As of Monday's evening session, Jamaica sit third on the medal standings with 41 total medals—12 gold, 17 silver, and 12 bronze—trailing only The Bahamas (55) and Trinidad and Tobago (42). However, in the overall points standings, Jamaica has climbed to second, leapfrogging the hosts.
Sinclair’s pride beams through when she reflects on the grit and growth shown by both the team’s seasoned athletes and its rising stars.
"While I was confident this team could contend for a podium finish, they’ve far exceeded my expectations. Some of our youngest swimmers in the 11-12 age group stepped up in a big way. When things got tough, they dug deep and delivered. And our experienced athletes led by example, executing their races exactly how the coaches planned," she noted.
Skyelar Richards (left) and Jessica Denniston.
Among the standout moments of the meet was Skyelar Richards’ gold medal performance in the 13-14 girls 50m backstroke, where she shattered her own Championship record from earlier that morning. Her 29.87s swim bettered the 29.89s mark she set in the prelims.
"That was just a stunning swim. To break a record you just set hours earlier—it speaks to her focus and talent," the manager declared.
The team has also seen a flurry of national age group records, among them are Brady Lewison, who set a new 15-17 boys national record in the 50m butterfly, clocking 24.76s and Carolyn Levy-Powell, who broke the 15-17 girls record in the 100m backstroke with 1:04.83. The 15-17 boys medley relay team of Lewison, Waldon McIntosh, Kai Radcliffe and Benjamin Davis also established a new national record of 3:56.47.
Richards also blazed to a new Carifta Championship record in the 50m butterfly, touching in 27.85s.
Sinclair singled out a group of athletes whose performances have stood out for their poise and consistency throughout the meet.
"Performances by rising stars like Kai Lawson, Emanuelle Spence, William Wan, and Noland Barrett, alongside seasoned swimmers Carolyn Levy-Powell and Benjamin Davis, were exceptional. They’ve set a standard for future teams," Sinclair shared.
Despite the pressure of international competition, Sinclair said the atmosphere within the Jamaican camp has remained one of unity and shared purpose.
"Indeed, I had high hopes for this team, and they did not disappoint. What I’ve witnessed over the past three days is a group of young athletes fully committed to excellence—on and off the podium," she ended.