SIMPSON BAY--Twelve local swimmers, representing the St Maarten Aquatic Federation National Team and the FFN-St Martin National Team, competed in the OECS Swimming & Open Water Championships, November 10 to 13, in St. Vincent. The meet included national team participants from Antigua, British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Martin and St Vincent.
According to Stephen Joachim, the president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Swimming Federation, this was the largest OECS Swimming Championship ever held, featuring 180 athletes between the ages of 6 to 33.
This event marks the first time swimmers from St Maarten/St Martin have ever earned medals in international competition, such as this OECS Championship.
Medal winners for the St Maarten team include Adaya Bourne, 2nd place, girls 7-8, 25 breastroke (Sharks Swim Team); Micah Sinke, 1st place, girls 11-12, 1.5k open water swim (Carib Swim Team); Emma Marshall, 1st place, girls 13-14, 1.5k open water swim (Carib Swim Team); Taffi Illis, 1st place, girls 13-15, 5k open water swim (Carib Swim Team); Rashad Peterson, 3rd place, boys 13-15, 5k open water swim (Carib Swim Team).
Medal winners for the St Martin team include Naima Dessout, 2nd place, girls 13-14, 50 free and 3rd place, girls 13-14, 100 free (Carib Swim Team); Matias Piazza, 3rd place, boys 7-8, 25 backstroke (Carib Swim Team); Miles Cheasley, Maxime Gibbs, Sacha Gibbs, Matias Piazza, 3rd place, boys 10 and under, 200 medley relay (Carib Swim Team).
Other team members, competing for the St Maarten National Team, include Deina Liverpool, girls 9-10, and Sacha Tobias, girls 7-8, both of Sharks Swim Team.
Swimmers from St Maarten/St Martin earned their space on these national teams by achieving at least three qualifying time standards in various swimming events between January 1, 2016 and October 2, 2016. Swimmers for the St Maarten team were coached by Eline Broere, Head Coach and Nicole Maccow, Assistant Coach. Swimmers for the St Martin team were coached by Megan Pittman, Head Coach. The St Maarten Aquatics Federation and St Martin Natation are very appreciative of all sponsorship and fundraising efforts that helped these swimmers travel to St Vincent to compete in this international event.
The 2017 OECS Swimming & Open Water Championships will be held next November in Martinique.
