Validus National Swim Championships Wrap Up
The Bermuda Validus National Championships was held this past weekend with swim competitors from around the world joining in at the Aquatics Centre.
A BASA spokesperson said, “The Dolphins Swim Team fielded a small, young team we did very well. Our younger swimmers tackled their first long course meet with enthusiasm, and delivered a steady stream of PB’s, which augers well for the Fall season.
“Dolphins Swim Team continues to build it’s Junior level swimmers, preparing them to have more podium appearances in future meets.
“At the Validus National Championships, there were several outstanding performances and it was a fitting end to a busy season. With Harbour Seniors having competed in a meet in Florida the week prior, some entered the meet on fine form, while others had peaked in the Florida meet where a plethora of personal best times had been recorded.
“Whilst some of the experienced international athletes struggled to replicate their personal best times, Rebecca Heyliger of Sharks, training in California, produced a strong time of 26.58 which moves her to within 0.39 seconds of the Olympic ‘B’ standard for Rio and surely into pole position in the race for consideration for the Olympic Games alongside fellow sprinter Roy-Allan Burch.
“On Saturday evening [May 30], Brett Smith stole the show with a fast 50m Backstroke to gain his third qualifying standard for Canadian Age Group Championships which will entitle him to attend the championships. Jude Moseley put in a strong performance on Saturday evening in the 400m Free and then made further improvement in a time trial on Sunday morning [May 31] as he plans his attack for a place in the Carifta team for the 2015-16 season.
“With sister Emma, Scottish record holder and one of Bermuda’s most decorated swimmers, having performed spectacularly the week previously in Florida, it was time for younger brother Jack Harvey to shine, winning the 100m boys backstroke by over 10 seconds to smash his personal best and destroy a competitive field. Harbour swimmers continued to gain impressive personal best times throughout the weekend.
“As the weekend progressed a strong atmosphere and crowd support at the National Sports Centre led to some fast times. Not to be outdone by brother Jude, Finn Moseley posted a suite of AA times as he looked to continue his development and take his swimming up a level, and Tommy Marshall did likewise.
“The Harbour swims of the meet though go to Evan Farrow who, with close to 6 second improvements in the 200 Free and 11 seconds in the 400 Free, gained selection times which will continue to earn him a place at international level for Bermuda in the future.
“Harbour Head Coach, Shona Palmer stated ‘Evan was simply brilliant and he has worked hard all season. To see the rapid improvement of all the swimmers, across the spectrum of the distances, strokes and age groups gives us a fantastic base to drive forward into next season. Harbour Coaching staff and 140 swimmers are to be congratulated on an outstanding season.
“The Sharks swimmers were well prepared to swim fast at the premier local swimming competition. There was a focus through the season to get as many of our swimmers qualified for the competition and to have them race hard in front of the home crowd. As a whole the team swam fast during the weekend with some putting in exceptional performances.
“We are proud of the whole team but if I have to single out some of the top performers it would be Holly Bruton, Brian Desmond and Sam Williamson who had personal best in all events and attacked their swims with focus and commitment showing what we can look forward to in the future.
“We had swimmers like Gabbi Pittman and Logan Watson-Brown have really strong meets and get times to be to selected to train with the National team. Skyler Powell and Keagan Woolley were able to put in qualifying performances that have them set to attend CCCAN in Barbados at the end of the month.
“Many of our older athletes that compete more often in Long Course events were close to personal best times and some even were able to have several best times. They were in good form as they know that the next 3 weeks will be preparation for CCCAN where they will be expected to put in Best times.
“It is always a balance when you have to perform while tired from training as the gauge where they are in fitness and preparation. The young age groupers get to lower their times often while the seasoned athletes have reached top times and are focused on shaving time when they are at peak performance.
“This balance is not easy to explain to the average person that doesn’t understand the details of the season and how hard it is to perform your best every time you swim in a competition. With that said we are very proud of Rebecca Heyliger who was able to put a lifetime best swim in the 100 free and then follow that with a lifetime best and National record in the 50 free.
“It is good to have hard work, determination and dedication rewarded with performance. As a club winning all the high points trophies again this year shows that our program continues to produce and that we can continue to strive for even better performances in the future.
“Congrats to the Sharks swimmers that won the high point categories Elan Daley and Keagan Woolley in the 12 and under. Jesse Washington and Maddy Moore in the 13 and Over. The high point individual fastest swim winners Elan Daley and Keagan Woolley in the 12 and under and Julian Fletcher and Rebecca Heyliger in the 13 and Over category.
“Congrats to all the Sharks but also to all the swimmers as this was a great meet that showed what Bermuda Swimming is capable of. We compete as clubs to help to push competition but at the end of the day we are looking for all the swimmers to perform at their best and continue to show what a great sport Swimming is.”
