Members of the Dorado Speed Swim club are very excited that records were broken at the swimming competition which ended last Sunday at the National Aquatic Centre.
Records were broken in 11 different events.
One particular standout was 13-year-old Saiyana Baksh who erased the 2:02.02 record in the 800m. However, despite her fight to retain her national title, her 2:01.59s was not enough to defeat Jamila Sanmoogan, who set the event’s new record at 1:50.88s.
Nevertheless, the Mae’s Secondary School second form student was good enough to keep her record in the 800m freestyle swim, where she cut the time down to 15:44.78s.
A smiling Baksh said she is very proud of herself and is prepared to take on any competition.
“The competition was really good but we had to train a lot and put in a lot of effort,” she said, adding that she had two competitors who “were putting up stiff competition” but she gave it her best shot.
Baksh said she sees herself someday as an Olympic qualifier.
“I want to be representing Guyana someday but I will have to train at least 18 hours per week… So if I want to be there I have to start preparing from now.”
Another record was set by 15-year-old Hannibal Gaskin who did the 400m free style in 38.94s. Hannibal said he didn’t train a lot for the competition but was still successful.
He explained that he had to manage school and swimming sessions at the same time, and that was very difficult for him. The third form Queen’s Collage student stated, however, that he is prepared for other challenges since this one has motivated him a lot. “I’m focused and ready,” Gaskin said with a smile.
Dorado’s Sarah King also got in on the record breaking action, doing the girls’ 9 – 10 years 100m freestyle at 1:33.10.
The meet featured some of Guyana’s best national swimmers and served as a selection criteria for the swimmers who will be on the training squad for the Goodwill Swimming Championships.
