Swimmers improving significantly
… coach Edna Rodrigues
By Leeron Brumell
Guyana Chronicle
January 13, 2004
GUYANA’S junior swimmers are improving significantly, according to internationally certified Level Two swimming coach Edna Rodrigues.
Rodrigues is of the view that the swimmers can do much more as long as the focus remains and there are people willing to assist in their development.
The American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) member said this was evident in the December 2003 Inter-Club competition that was held at the Colgrain Swimming Pool to end the season.
Given the conditions that Guyana has to endure, it is a plus when the swimmers can make the age group timings as set by the governing body.
In August of 2003 when the swimmers were preparing for the Goodwill Meet in Suriname, many failed to meet the qualifying standards, but the improvement was shown at the Inter-Club championships, which was contested between the Silver Shark Aquatic Swim Club (SSA), Dorado Speed Swim Club (DSSC) and Dolphins Swim Club (DSC).
Rodrigues said the inter-club meet was a substitute for the National Championships that was not staged due to the unavailability of the Castellani Pool.
The pool is 25 metres long - the minimum distance recommended by FINA - the World Body.
The SSA head coach said the clubs were disappointed that there was no national competition, thus the staging of the inter-club event.
The clubs participated in six events using the four strokes, the freestyle, back and breast and the butterfly stroke with distances ranging from 25m to 100m and also contested the individual medley relay over 100m and 200m.
The medley is a combination of all the strokes including the butterfly.
From the result sheet supplied by GASA, the swimmers are more comfortable with the freestyle and back and breaststroke events, than the butterfly, as a greater number of swimmers participated in the first three.
Notable performances came from Dominique Watson who secured a first, a second and a fourth in the 25m and 50m freestyle and 25m breaststroke events.
Jamila Sanmoogan also put in a good showing with two seconds and a third-place finish in the same events, while Christina Cheeks claimed two third-place finishes, all in the eight and under class or Z1 division.
In the Z2 Under-eight Boys category, Keean Sanmoogan claimed three firsts in the 25m and 50m freestyle events and the 50m breaststroke swim.
Ronaldo Rodrigues placed second in all three events, while Rene Armstrong finished third also in all three events.
Ariel Davis and Noelle Smith both had one first and a second in the 9-10 years A1 Girls’ division, with Anna Layne picking up two thirds.
Rodero Holder dominated the Boys’ A2 class with two wins and a second-place finish, while Ricardo Holder had one win and two second-place finishes.
In the Girls’ 11-12 B1 class, Nayira Freso notched up two first-place finishes to end top of the group, while Tara Heywood had two second-place finishes and Monique Aaron had one third as well as Ashley Layne.
Niall Roberts controlled the Boys’ B2 class with two wins, Errol Van Lange had a second and a third-place finish while Henk Lowe secured one second.
In the Girls’ 13-14 C1 class Delicia Helwig and Christina King both had a first and a second in the two events contested while Rene Armstrong finished third in both events.
In the Boys’ C2, Jamaal Roberts won two of the three events while Yannick Roberts had a second, Alan Lowe a second and a third, and Kizan Brumell two third place finishes.
In the final category, Boys’ 15 and over or D2, Justin Fern had a first and a third, Jason King one win and Wesley McIntyre one second.