Guyanese Jessica Stephenson captured Guyana’s first ever medal at the Carifta Swimming Championships when she swam her way to an emphatic victory in the girls’ 11-12 200 yard breaststroke on Thursday in Aruba.
After qualifying for these championships with a time of two minutes 58 seconds (2:58s), Stephenson, who currently resides in Trinidad, cut two seconds off her personal best time in the heats and then swam 2:55.39s in the finals to gain victory ahead of Jamaican Breanna Roman (2:59.37s) and Daniella van der Berg (2:59.81s) of Aruba.
According to the information reaching this newspaper from Stephenson’s mother, Davina Stevenson, Jessica was extremely proud to stand on the podium and see her national flag -the Golden Arrowhead- fly for the first time at the Carifta Swimming Championships.
Jessica has also reportedly expressed her deepest gratitude to her Trinidadian Coach Franz Huggins and her sponsors, Scotia Bank and Cara Hotels Trinidad and Guyana.
Stephenson also took part in the girls’ 11-12 200 yard freestyle but failed to make the final after placing ninth in her heat.
Ronaldo Rodrigues made Guyana’s next appearance in the finals when he too reduced his personal best time and placed seventh in the boys 11-12 breaststroke, finishing in three minutes two seconds (3:02s).
Linden Wickham has so far had a tough time at this year’s Championship, placing tenth in the boys’ 13-14 breaststroke and 16th in the 50 and 100 yard backstroke respectively.
Niall Roberts placed also tenth and 11th respectively in the boys’ 15-17 100 and 50 yard butterfly respectively.
Today, Roberts is set to compete in the 100 yard freestyle, while Rodrigues Stephenson will swim the 200m individual medley and 50m breaststroke followed by Wickham appearing in the 50m breaststroke and 100m freestyle. The Guyana Amateur Swimming Associations (GASA) wishes all of its swimmers the best of luck and continues to be proud of them all of them for competing at this prestigious competition.
The National Sport Commission,in a press release yesterday afternoon also expressed their congratulatory remarks to Stephenson and the GASA for accomplishing such a prestigious honour.
