‘Nationals’: District 11 makes another big splash for swimming title

By Akeem Greene 

For the last decade or more, there are some facets of the National Schools Track and Field, Swimming and Cycling Championships that seem etched in stone, one being North Georgetown (District 11) dominance in the pool.

It was no way different at the ongoing 58th edition with the district storming to yet another title at the National Aquatic Center, Liliendaal, on Monday.

Due to the bulk of the country’s national swimmers attending schools in the district, they usual form the most imposing team for the Short Course event.

According to the unofficial results, they amassed 434 points and were followed by District 10 (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani) with 319 points; East Georgetown (District 12) 219 points; District Seven (Cuyuni Mazaruni) 189 points and District 13 (South Georgetown) 173 points.

Leading the charge for District 11 were star athletes Leon Seaton Jr and Amy Grant. Competing in the Boys Under-16, Seaton Jr won the 50M Freestyle (25.61s), 50M Butterfly (28.19s) and 50M Backstroke (30.66s). Likewise, Grant continued her stellar form at the championships and took gold in the 50M Freestyle (30.85s), 50M Butterfly (32.34s) and 100M Freestyle (1:10.05).

Both competed in the 200M Freestyle relay (50M per swimmer) and anchored their teams to massive victories. Seaton helped the trio of Fitzroy Thom, Jonathan Sookram and Telford George dip below the one minute, 50 seconds marker with a time of 1:49.50s.

The next best time was 1:56.28s by East Georgetown and District 10 with 1:57.18s.

For the girls, Amber DeGoeas, Monique Watson and Patrice Mahaica were supported by the sublime final leg from Grant with their team winning by more than twelve seconds in a time of 2:06.38s. Once again East Georgetown copped second with 2:18.50s and District 10 third with 2:20.47s.

Other standout performances saw East Georgetown’s Aleka Persaud and Raekwon Noel decimate opponents in the U-14 events. They won the 50m Freestyle with times below 29 seconds and the backstroke.

District 11’s Fitzroy Thom further enhanced his growing reputation as one for the future by emphatically winning the Boys Open 100M Backstroke (1:05.55s). The next best was 1:28.00s by Nathan Allicock of District 10;

Thomas also won the 50M Freestyle (26.28s) and 100M Freestyle in 57.87s, being the lone participant to dip below the minute mark.

District 10’s Nikita Fiedtkou, competing in her final year, looked set to collect gold in all individual events until the 50M Breaststroke where she was relegated to silver by District 11’s 12-year-old Monique Watson, who had a time of 40.48s against Fiedtkou’s 42.00s.

However, the star swimmer had won the 50M and 100M Freestyle with times of 29.72s and 1:04.92s respectively.

Attention in the championships will now return to National Track and Field Facility, Leonora, until curtains close on Friday.

Other placements

District 9 (Rupununi)- 132 points

District 2 (Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon)- 127 points

District 1 (North West)- 107 points

District 4 (East Coast Demerara)-  63 points

District 3 (West Demerara)- 57 points

District 14 (East Bank Demerara)– 45 points

District 5 (West Coast Berbice)- 9 points

District 8 (Potaro/Siparuni)- 8 points

District 6 (Corentyne)- 7 points

District 15 (New Amsterdam)- 5 points