Aqua Warriors coach Denoon pleased with medal haul at Long Course Champs

DEXTER EDWARDS

THE TOBAGO YMCA Aqua Warriors secured 16 medals at the ASATT National Open Long Course Championships, which was held at the National Aquatic Centre in Balmain, Couva, from May 19-22.

The national championship represented the last opportunity for the local swimmers to earn qualifying standards, for the Pan American age group championships, at the Aquatic Centre, from June 2-5, as well as the Pan American Masters Swimming Championships in Colombia (July 21-28), and Caribbean Games slated for Guadeloupe (June 30 to July 3).

Coach Mosi Denoon, along with his assistant Rochelle Pierre, led the medal count, at the Long Course Championship, for the five-member Aqua Warriors contingent.

Denoon and Pierre earned five medals each, inclusive of three gold medals apiece.

Competing in the 25-and-over category, Denoon splashed to victory in the 50 metres backstroke, 100m breaststroke and 100m butterfly.

Denoon also secured silver medals, in the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle. His performance qualified him for the Masters Champioships, in Colombia.

Pierre outswam her competitors to claim gold, in the 50m and 100m freestyle, along with the 50m backstroke. Her silver medal performances came in the 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke.

Pierre, who faced competition in the female 25-and-over age group, also booked her ticket to Colombia.

Ornella Walker, who has represented Trinidad and Tobago on many occasions, copped two gold medals in her favoured 50m and 100m backstroke, in the 11-and-over age group.

Her season’s best time of one minute 5.45 seconds, in the 100m backstroke, landed her a spot on the national team, for the Pan American age group championships and the Caribbean Games.

The Castara standout said she did not enter the national championships with any major objectives. “Other than seeing where my times were, and what needed to be worked on, such as my strokes. I had no real expectations,” Walker expressed.

Walker has her eyes set on qualification for the Commonwealth Games, set for Birmingham, England later this year. She said, “My goal at the Pan Am Age Group Championships, is to attain the qualifying standards for the Commonwealth Games."

Sydelle Johnson, who previously represented the country in the sport of water polo, in 2004, got her second opportunity to wear the national colours.

Johnson swam her way to top spot in the over-25 female 100m breaststroke, and touched the wall second in the 50m breaststroke, and third in the 50m backstroke.

Johnson, was elated over her pick for the Masters Championship. “I am so excited to once again represent my country, after eighteen years. Returning to the water has brought back so many good memories,” she said.

Jacob Cox, the youngest member of the team, vying for supremacy in the 11-and-over category, took silver in the 200m breaststroke, and occupied fouth place in the 100m breaststroke, in a personal best time of one minute 15.60 seconds.

Following action in the pool at the end of four days, Pierre received the trophy for the top female performer in the 25-and-over category. Johnson received the second place trophy while Khrystyann George of TT Aquatics was third.

Denoon, lifted the trophy as the premier male 25-and-over swimmer, ahead of Joseph Ryan, representing RWB Aqua Stars, and Curtis Harper of Flying Fish Swim Club.

Pierre, also captured the female FINA high points trophy, in her age group category.

Speaking of his club’s overall performance, Denoon said “I think we did well dispite the challenges, we had to overcome. We will also intensify our training in preparation for our forthcoming national assignments."