Wilson, Rivas clock new records on closing day

NATIONAL youth swimmer Zarek Wilson and the up and coming Giovanni Rivas were among the top performers, each breaking another record during the closing segment of the Amateur Swimming Association of TT's (ASATT) Invitational Swimming Championships at the National Aquatic Centre, on Sunday night.

Rivas, 10, competed in the Boys 11-12 100m backstroke clocking 1:12.97 to break the age group (9-10) record, which was previously held by Wilson.

Rivas also set a new record in the Boys 9-10 50m backstroke earlier in the competition, clocking 33.06 seconds, erasing yet another of Wilson's previous age group records (33.42 seconds).

Wilson, however, swam in the same race and won convincingly in a new age group record-setting time of 1:04.60, beating the previous record held by Jabari Baptiste (1:05.05). His age group rival and team-mate on the national youth team, Nikoli Blackman, came in second, clocking 1:06.90.

Wilson had much to celebrate over the course of the four-day event as he also left with a new Boys 11-12 50m freestyle record previously held by Dylan Carter. He clocked 25.39 seconds, again leaving Blackman (25.76) for the runner-up spot. Wilson opened his account on Thursday, securing the 1500m freestyle in 17:41.86, not far off his record (17:36.90), which he set only two months prior.

He followed up shortly after with his first record breaking performance of the competition, clocking 2:17.27 in the 200m butterfly.

Wilson went on to sweep the freestyle, winning the 100m, 200m, 400m freestyle, along with the 50m, 100m butterfly, 200m, 400m IM, 100m and 200m backstroke. He placed second and third in the 50m and 100m breaststroke events, respectively.

Among the numerous other stand-out performers were Zoe Anthony (Girls 11-12), Josiah Parag (Boys 15 & Over), Antoine Destang (Boys 9-10), Keryn Burke (Girls 9-10). Anthony, who represents TT as a junior athlete, won the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle events, 200m and 400m IM, 100m and 200m butterfly, and the 100m and 200m breaststroke. She also claimed three runner-up on the podium in the 100m backstroke, 50m breaststroke and 50m butterfly events.

Burke eased to wins in 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle, as well as the 200m IM, 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly.

The long course invitational meet welcomed some 26 local and regional clubs with participants from Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent, Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana and the hosts, TT.