Jadon Ramdeen, Aimee Le Blanc shine at swim champs

JADON Ramdeen and Aimee Le Blanc were among the star swimmers on the opening night of the National Long Course Age Group Swimming Championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Balmain, Couva on February 19.

Ramdeen won multiple events in the boys 13-14 category for the RWB Aquatic Academy. In the 400-metre individual medley, Ramdeen won comfortably in five minutes, 07.08 seconds (5:07.08) to achieve the Carifta B standard.

National junior swimmer Aaron Siewlal was second in 5:25.43 and Ramdeen's teammate Kyle Leera was third in 5:27.65.

In the 200m breaststroke, Ramdeen again dipped under the Carifta B time when he finished in 2:41.95. Leera was second in 2:47.51 and Qadir Lewis was third in 2:47.85. Both swimmers went under the Carifta C standard of 2:50.72.

Le Blanc, no stranger to the TT junior swim team, showed her quality in the girls' 15-17 category. The Marlins swimmer topped the field in the 400m individual medley in 5:39.39 (Carifta B time). Anya Davis of RWB Aquatic Academy was a close second in 5:43.95 and Sydney Look Fong of Petrotrin Barracudas Swim Club was third in 5:58.55. Davis and Look Fong were fast enough to achieve the Carifta C standard.

Le Blanc crushed the field in the 800m freestyle event, winning in 10:13.34 which was quick enough for the C standard. Ava Charles was almost one minute behind in 11:10.09 and Kurlissa McSween ended third in 11:58.32.

Zachary Anthony (boys 15-17 400m individual medley), Zalayhar Lewis (girls 11-12 200m breaststroke), Maeko Alexander (girls 13-14 200m breaststroke) and Anya Davis (girls 15-17 200m breaststroke) were some of those who also delivered strong performances on the opening night by winning their events.

Many of the swimmers are hoping to earn selection on the TT team for the 2025 Carifta Swimming Championships which will be held at the National Aquatic Centre in April.