Local swim president hails Dylan Carter's record-breaking feat

TT swimmer Dylan Carter broke his own national record in the men’s 100-metre butterfly at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, on Thursday.

In heat three of the men’s 100m butterfly, Carter clocked 52.36 seconds to finish second at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Carter lowered his previous national record of 52.64.

Tomoe Hvas of Norway won the heat in 52.22.

Amateur Swimming Association of TT (ASATT) president Lindsay Gillette commended Carter for his effort.

“I think he swam well. I looked at the race, he was good (and) he was streamlined. He did the country proud. 52 (seconds) is a very good time.”

Carter did not qualify for the semifinals as his time was only good enough to finish 33rd overall out of 55 swimmers who completed the event. The top 16 swimmers advanced to the semifinals.

Asked about criticism Carter may get because he did not get past the heats, Gillette said, “A lot of people will say those things but, to me, 52 is a world class swim…the competition over there is tough.”

Gillette, who has been involved in swimming for decades, called it a “fabulous time.”

Less than two seconds separated top qualifier Caeleb Dressel of USA and Carter. Dressel won the eighth and final heat in 50.39.

Carter will return to the water at 6.12 am on Friday (TT time) in heat six of the men’s 50m freestyle.

TT sailor Andrew Lewis continued to compete in the men’s one-person dinghy laser competition.

Lewis finished 23rd in the field of 35 athletes in race seven which began late on Wednesday night (TT time), before competing in race eight where he placed 24th. Lewis now has 171 net points and is 30th overall. He has improved over the course of the competition as he placed 15th in race six.

Australian Matt Wearn leads the standings with 29 net points.

The top ten sailors will advance to the next round of competition after race nine and ten.

Race nine is scheduled for 1.35 am on Friday (TT time), which will be followed by race ten.

TT swimmer Cherelle Thompson will make her debut at the Olympic Games when she competes in heat seven of the women’s 50m freestyle, at 6.36 am, on Friday.

Thompson, the national record holder in the event, will be among 83 entrants in the event aiming for a top 16 finish to qualify for the semifinals.

In track and field, Portious Warren will line up in the women’s shot put qualification round, from 6.25 am, on Friday at the Olympic Stadium. Warren, making her Olympic debut, will compete in Group A alongside 15 other athletes.

In Group B 16 participants will also compete.

Warren will aim for a throw of 18.80m to qualify for the final or at least a top 12 finish.

Sparkle McKnight will face the starter in the heats of the women’s 400m hurdles event from 8 pm, on Friday (TT time).

On Saturday from 6.10 am, Andwuelle Wright will feature in the men’s long jump qualification.

Wright is the national record holder in the event.