Yorke, Thompson, Harley shine at Short Course

Kael Yorke of Tidal Wave Athletics won three gold medals on Friday evening as the National Short Course Swimming Championships continued at the National Aquatic Centre, Couva.

Yorke, competing in the Boys 11 and Over category, took first place in the 100m butterfly in a time of 56.86 ahead of Jeron Thompson of Atlantis who touched the wall in 59.35 seconds, while Aqeel Joseph of Sea Hawks came third in 59.35.

Yorke splashed to his second gold of the evening, this time around 100m freestyle in 52.89 seconds.

Thompson again had to settle for second place in 53.38, with Osaze Riley following in 54.10.

Yorke later combined with his Tidal Wave teammates Jahmia Harley, Delroy Tyrell and Gabriella Vickles to win the Mixed 400m freestyle relay in 4:02.03.

Thompson, despite missing out on glory in two events, showed his class to snatch two gold medals of his own.

The Atlantis swimmer copped the Boys 11 and Over 200m Individual Medley in two minutes, 10.75 second, leaving Blue Dolphins’ Josiah Parag (2:17.52) and Aqeel Joseph (2:21.16) to settle for second and third respectively. Thompson also took gold in the 200m backstroke, touching the wall in 2:31.15, ahead of Tidal Wave Athletics’ William Reyes who timed 2:33.49 and Jamaal Pascall of Flying Fish (2:40.44)

Tidal Wave’s Jahmia Harley was a triple gold medallist on the evening with victories in the 100m butterfly and 50m backstroke to add to her relay medal.

The Tidal Wave swimmer stopped the clock at 1:06.06 in the 100 butterfly, well ahead of Terri Yates of Flying Fish (1:13.03) and DeNicha Lewis (1:13.80).

Harley was unstoppable in the 50m backstroke, taking the gold in 30.91, holding off Lewis (33.45) and Tidal Wave’s Gabriella Vickles (33.86).