Yannick Roberts registers personal best time
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
March 28, 2007
Guyana's Yannick Roberts failed to qualify for the semi-final round of the men's 200-metre freestyle event at the 12th Annual FINA World Swimming Championships currently underway in Melbourne, Australia.
Roberts, however, registered a personal best time for the event on Monday.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport by telephone from Australia, Guyana's team manager/coachEdna Rodrigues said Roberts, who placed third in the second of 15 heats, registered two minutes 10.75 seconds (2:1075) for the distance and improvement on his entry time (2.11.08).
According to Rodriguez, Roberts' previous best time was 2:11.08.
Roberts' compatriot Jamal Sobers, who also contested heat two of the 200-metre event, recorded 2:16.87 to place fifth.
On Sunday, Roberts and Sobers contested the 100m backstroke with Roberts, who competed in heat one of 12, finishing second with a time of 1:12.78, while Sobers, who competed in heat two, finished in 1:10.05, for fourth place.
That same day Sobers contested the 50m butterfly and swam in heat one of 20.
He placed fourth in his heat in a time of 28.99 seconds.
Niall Roberts, who swam in heat six, placed second in 27.70 seconds.
A total of 149 swimmers contested this event.
In the 100m breaststroke there were 117 swimmers.
Thom, swimming in the fifth of 16 heats, placed seventh in a time of 1:13.62.
These three athletes were joined by Yannick Roberts in the 4x 100m freestyle relay, which comprised a total of 29 teams.
The team placed seventh in heat two in a time of 3:55.87.
Rodrigues said the competition was world class "and it's really good for them. It's an experience they will never forget and will only serve them well in the future," adding, "what's good about it is, they can see their ranking in each event and it's a big thing for them."
According to the team coach, Thom and the others had complained about the coldness of the water, but they are getting accustomed to it.
She said Thom had complained about contracting influenza prior to the start of the team's 4X100 metres relay event which had affected his breathing as soon as he got into the water for the start of the event.
She said other team members complained about being jet-lagged.