Wilson, Chatoor cop 400m gold

ZAREK Wilson and Jada Chatoor splashed away with two gold medals in the 400m Freestyle event yesterday evening, at the 34th Carifta Swimming Championship held at the Barbados Aquatic Centre, Wildey, Barbados.

Swimming in the 13-14 age group, Zarek Wilson (4:16.40) held his nerves as he touched the line in front of his countryman Nikoli Blackman (4:16.61) while USVI’s Max Wilson (4:19.77) clinched the bronze medal.

Jada Chatoor was unstoppable leading the race from the start to finish. She clocked a comprehensive time of 4:32.75 to defeat Bermuda’s Logan Watson-Brown (4:35.23) who captured silver and bronze medallist Elana Sinclair (4:35.59) from the Cayman Islands.

Amelia Rajack racked up yet another medal in the Girls 11-12 when she secured a bronze medal in a time of (4:59.72). Cayman’s Harper Barrowman won in (4:46.92) while Barbadian Kenyah Deane (4:59.42) placed second.

The TT Boys 13-14 Relay team remained unbeaten in their age group relays by winning their third gold medal of the championship. The quartet of Wilson, Johann-Matthew Matamoro, Josiah Changar and Blackman captured the top prize in the 4x200m Relay, clocking (8:24.34) as Martinique (8:31.09) placed second and French Guiana (8:43.78) copped third.

Rajack bagged the gold medal in the Girls 11-12 200m Butterfly, stopping the clock at (2:42.27). Her teammate, Joy Blackett ensured it was a double TT blow by securing the silver medal (2:45.60) and Cayman Islands’ Gabriella Royston (2:49.26) was third.

In the boys, equivalent, Giovanni Rivas (2:33.69) added to TT medal tally by claiming the silver medal. He defeated Martiniquan Matis Eustache (2:34.52) but lost out to Bermuda`s Elijah Daley (2:27.13) In the higher age group girls 13-14, Zoe Anthony (2:34.59) held on to the bronze medal after being edge out on the line by Cayman`s Allyson Belfonte (2:34.51) while Barbadian Keilana Talma (2:32.49) was a comfortable winner.

Wilson sneaked in the end to capture the silver medal in the Boys 13-14 of the same event. Wilson clocked (2:16.18) touching the wall in front of Bajan Jake Chee-A-Tow (2:16.31) but losing to Bahamian Nigel Forbes (2:14.49).

TT’s multiple medal winner, Chatoor (2:27.94) was the clear winner in the Girls 15-17. She defeated USVI`s Natalia Kuipers (2:30.58) and fellow Trinbagonian Vrisnelit Faure (2:30.66) who locked up the third spot.

Rajack returned to the pool to win a bronze medal in the Girls 11-12 100m Freestyle final. The eventual winners was Guyanese Aleka Persaud (1:02.93) andCayman`s Harper Barrowman (1:03.64).

Gabriela Donahue (59.33) added another medal to her outstanding championship when she captured the bronze medal in the Girls 15-17 100m. Ali Jackson of Cayman Islands (58.84) was the winner while Jamaican Emily Mc Donald (58.86) was third.

TT alson won another bronze medal in the Boys 15-17 100m Freestyle through Aqeel Joseph (53.66). Despite his valiant effort, Martinique`s Brice Rene-Coail (52.13) copped the top prize while Cayman`s Jordan Crooks (53.24) took home the silver medal.

TT swimmers Luke Gillette, Kyle West, Nikoli Blackman, Anthony Zachary, and Lyla Browne missed out on podium finishes in the narrowest of margins placing fourth in their respective races while Amari Ash finished sixth, Malik Nelson 7thand Caitlyn Look Fong 8th.

TT was third on the points table (497) behind Jamaica (565) and Bahamas (667.50) before the last 30 events.