Aquatics aiming for top 3 at Goodwill 2024

In 2022 Barbados placed third overall in the Goodwill Swimming Championship, with just 36 swimmers. Last year, in Jamaica, the Barbados Aquatic Sports Association (BASA) fielded a full team of 40, and finished fourth.

This coming weekend, August 16-18 at the Rodney Heights Aquatics Centre (RHAC) in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, BASA is looking forward to returning to the top three. This will be the 28th staging of the Goodwill Swimming Championship.

This year, the Association has once again selected its full quota of 40 swimmers for the annual, age-group tournament. Each country is allowed a maximum number of four male swimmers and four female, in age divisions from 8 and under to 15-17.

The competition is intended to expose young swimmers to regional competition, and is meant as a development meet for athletes who have not competed at meets like the CARIFTA Swimming Championships. BASA congratulated this year’s team in a brief release.

“These swimmers’ hard work, commitment, and dedication in training have paved the way for their qualification and inclusion on the team,” stated BASA. “And we want to wish each and every one of them continued success! This is yet another stepping stone towards competing on the world stage!”

The Pirates Swim Club duo of Naraia McClean and Aquan Crichlow have been named as girls’ and boys’ captains. Both veterans of the Goodwill meet, they will contest the 15-17 category. Head coach Antonio Martinez and manager Petra Watson are hopeful of a very strong performance from Team Barbados.

“We have a very competitive team this year,” Watson told Barbados TODAY. “I’m certain that each age group will be impactful and medal in their individual events.”

Other returning swimmers include Adante Martin (11-12 boys), Khalil Patrick (8-and-under boys), and Gabriella Babb (9-10 girls). Babb returns after missing out on last year’s meet with a broken hand, but she is also familiar with the competition venue, having competed earlier this year at Saint Lucia’s Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre.

Originally conceived as a meet for Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Goodwill has increased steadily in terms of subscription over the years. The 2024 meet is expected to be the biggest ever, with approximately 300 swimmers from 10 territories, despite the absence of founding member, Guyana.

The meet has grown to the extent that Barbados manager Watson suggests that an additional day of swimming should probably be considered, as well as the option to include a reserve swimmer in each age group.

Following the Goodwill meet, BASA will also be sending a small team to the PanAm Age Group Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from August 22-25.

(TF)