No new records at ASATT Short Course trials

Sports

3 Hrs Ago

OLYMPIC-BOUND swimmers Dylan Carter and Cherelle Thompson made a welcome return to local competitive action at the Amateur Swimming Association of TT (ASATT) Short Course trials on Friday.

At the National Aquatic Centre in Couva, the pair was among a host of other local swimmers who competed individually in pursuit of breaking their respective national age group records.

However, no new records were attained at the trial meet, which was also the first official event held by ASATT since the covid19 pandemic hit in mid-March.

In event five, Thompson (Eagles) equalled her own women’s 50-metre freestyle record of 26.20 seconds, which was set in November 2019.

In January, however, Thompson earned the Olympic B standard of 25.39 in this event when she competed at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville, Tennessee, US.

Carter (Unattached), who recently returned from an 11-month training and competitive stint with US-based team Los Angeles Current (LAC), was also unable to lower George Bovell III’s men’s 50m freestyle record of 20.82, set back in October, 2012. Carter touched the wall in 21.39.

He will make his second appearance at the 2021 Tokyo Games and will have to work harder to match or better the likes of Bovell III, who splashed to bronze in the men’s individual medley 200m event at the 2004 Olympics.

Meanwhile, Zarek Wilson (Unattached) – who presently holds six age group records – was unable to shave time of Carter’s boys 13-14 50m backstroke time of 26.03. Wilson clocked 27.39.

Stachys Harley (Tidal Wave Aquatics) was also incapable of bettering Carter’s November 2011 boys 13-14 50m butterfly time of 24.94. Harley completed his swim in 27 seconds flat.

Additionally, Thompson’s 25.61 record in the girls 15-17 50m freestyle stood firm as DeNicha Lewis (Flying Fish) was timed in 27.48.

Other local swimmers such as Giovanni Rivas (Unattached), Joy Blackett (Tidal Wave Aquatics), Marcus Alexander (Eagles) and Annalee Maharaj (Flying Fish) were among the over 35 athletes who vied for new age group times on Friday.

The Short Course trials will be followed by the ASATT Long Course trials at the Aquatic Centre, on Monday, from 6pm.

The Long Course trials are for swimmers who have already attained qualifying times for the 2021 Olympics and the 2021 Junior Pan American Games but are interested in achieving faster times.