Bermuda Swimmers Win 28 Medals In Aruba
[Updated - 5 more medals won] Bermuda’s swimmers continue their dominant form at the 2012 Caribbean Island Swimming Championships [CISC] in Aruba, with the third day of competition seeing Bermuda claim nine more medals, driving the medal tally up to 23.
Olympian Roy Allan Burch and 12-year-old Jesse Washington both won their gold medals in record setting style, with both swimmers setting new Bermuda records.
Lisa Blackburn won the bronze medal during the 50 Long Course Meter Freestyle final clocking 27.14, Rebecca Heyliger finished 4th with a time of 27.39. Blackburn also picked up a silver medal in the 200 Long Course Meter Butterfly clocking 2:30.51
Roy Allan Burch claimed gold when he won the 50 Long Course Meter Freestyle clocking a time of 22.85, with Julian Fletcher finishing seventh with a time of 24.61.
Roy Allan Burch — who will represent the island in the 2012 Olympics – collects his gold medal:
Jesse Washington won another gold medal when he won the 11-12 Boys 100 Long Course Meter Butterfly clocking 1:03.78, and he also won the gold medal in the 11-12 Boys 200 Long Course Meter Freestyle. Washington then won silver when he finished second in the 11-12 Boys 50 Long Course Meter Backstroke with a time of 30.78.
Shannon Hassell’s time of 33.60 saw her pick up a bronze in the 11-12 Girls 50 Long Course Meter Backstroke, she then won another bronze during the 11-12 Girls 200 Long Course Meter Freestyle clocking a time of 2:18.12, Ashley Yearwood won the bronze in the 15-17 Girls 50 Long Course Meter Backstroke final, finishing third with a time of 31.41.
At last check Bermuda — despite having one of the smallest teams — was 5th on the medal table out of 15 countries. Our local swimmers are not done yet, with this morning’s semi-finals seeing a number of Bermuda swimmers go through to the finals including Philip Hagen in the 400m freestyle, Julian Fletcher in the 50m breaststroke, Shannon Hassell in the 200m backstroke, and Jesse Washington in both the 400m freestyle and 200m backstroke.
National Swimming Coach Ben Smith said, “After 3 days of competition we have 23 medals and we hope to move up the points table after another amazing night of swims. The team is getting along well and performing at their highest. With two days left in the meet we want to keep moving forward with the level of success.
“Watching these great Bermuda athletes competing so well for their country is a treat and I hope it will bring some well-deserved recognition to the sport of swimming.”
Update June 27: Day Four saw Bermuda’s swimmers capture five more medals, taking their medal count up to 28.
Stephanie Myles won the silver in the 400 Long Course Meter Freestyle clocking a time of 4:36.56, Jesse Washington won a silver in the 11-12 Boys 400 Long Course Meter Freestyle final when he finished second in a time of 4:28.80.
Lisa Blackburn’s time of 33.46 saw her win the 50 Long Course Meter Breaststroke silver medal, while Julian Fletcher won the bronze medal during the 50 Long Course Meter Breaststroke Final clocking 29.46.
Shannon Hassell won another silver medal during the 11-12 Girls 200 Long Course Meter Backstroke final with a time of 2:39.76.
- Photo courtesy of Doug Patterson
I look forward to seeing great things from these swimmers in the future. Hopefully they will serve as inspiration to youngsters coming up, especially once the swimming facilities at the National Sports Center are up and running. I expect swimming to be a national sport and for our island to be even more successful!
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE ATHLETES. You all are doing an excellent job. Keep up the good work I am so proud of all of you!
WOW!!!!!! This is just fabulous fabulous – well done to these girls and boys, men and women – you do us proud – thanks for the work and I’m so delighted for your successes.
You have made Bermuda proud. Please keep up the good work. God continue to Bless each and everyone of you.