2nd Place for Team Saint Lucia at the 29th OECS Swim Championship 2019

The 29th OECS Swim Meet was held this past weekend at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre in St. Vincent. Five islands competed including 2018 champions Grenada, St. Vincent, Antigua, St. Kitts Nevis and Saint Lucia. A total of thirty-four (34) swimmers from the various swim clubs in Saint Lucia proved to be the top swimmers after the OECS swim trials and was chosen to represent.

From the onset of the competition all swimmers were geared up with the intention to overthrow Grenada.

Day one of competition St. Lucian swimmers amassed four (4) Gold, three (3) Silver and one (1) bronze medal. Medal contributors included:

Gold: Antoine Destang (1), Tristan Dorville (1), Jayhan Odlum Smith (1), Jean Luc Zephir (1)

Silver: Fayth Jeffery (1), Mikaili Charlemagne (1), D’Andre Blanchard (1)

Bronze: Ethan Hazel (1)

Day one saw three new National Age Group Records set by three swimmers in the 400meter Freestyle including Girls 9 – 10 Fayth Jeffrey, Boys 9 – 10 Antoine Destang and 18 and over Jean Luc Zephir.

Day two swimmers gave their best fight and took their podium positions in nineteen (19) Gold, seven (7) silver and eighteen (18) bronze medal spots. The top swimmers on day two included:

Gold: Antoine Destang (4), Tristan Dorville (3), Mikaili Charlemagne (3), Jayhan Odlum Smith (4), Jean Luc Zephir (2), Adam Stromberg (1),

Naima Hazel (2)

Silver: Mikaili Charlemagne (2), Jean Luc Zephir (2), Karic Charles (1), Naima Hazel (1), Caitlin Polius (1)

Bronze: Tristan Dorville (2), Ethan Hazel (1), D’Andre Blanchard (3), Jayhan Odlum Smith (1), Jean Luc Zephir (1), Adan Stromberg (3), Jasmin Steide (1)

Karic Charles (1), Fayth Jeffery (1), Caitlin Polius (1), Shalini Joseph (1), Siona Huxley (1), Naekeisha Louis (1)

Fourteen (14) Age Group Records were established on day two in the Girls 13 – 14 50meter breaststroke by Naima Hazell, Girls 15 – 17 50meter Freestyle Mikaili Charlemagne and 100meter Backstroke Siona Huxley. Antoine Destang set four new records in the 50- and 100-meter Freestyle, 50 Backstroke and 50 Butterfly. Tristan Dorville also broke the 100-butterfly, 200freestyle, 50 and 100backstroke record with Jayhan Odlum Smith in the 100meter and 50meter butterfly. Jean Luc Zephir joined the pack by setting the 100-butterfly record.

Final day of competition, when the curtains came down, the team dug deep and jacked up an additional fifteen (15) Gold, ten (10) silver and seven (7) bronze medals.

These medals were conquered by:

Gold: Antoine Destang (3), Tristan Dorville (2), Mikaili Charlemagne (3), Jayhan Odlum Smith (2), Jean Luc Zephir (3), Naima Hazell (1), Caitlin Polius (1)

Silver: Tristan Dorville (2), Mikaili Charlemagne (2), Jayhan Odlum Smith (1), Jean Luc Zephir (1), Adam Stromberg (1), Karic Charles (1), Naima Hazell (1), Fayth Jeffery (1),

Siona Huxley (1), D’Andre Blanchard (1)

Bronze: Jayhan Odlum Smith (2), Adam Stromberg (1), Karic Charles (1), Fayth Jeffery (1), Caitlin Polius (1), Naekeisha Louis (1), D’Andre Blanchard (1), Ziv Reynolds (1)

Further national age group records were set in the 50meter breaststroke by 18 and over Adam Stromberg, Jean Luc Zephir in the 100meter breaststroke and 200IM.

Despite Grenada achieving thirty nine (39) gold, forty nine (49) silver and thirty (39) bronze medals, Saint Lucia received forty one (41) gold medals, twenty four (24) silver and thirty five (35) bronze.

In total, with the contribution of all the swimmers, team Saint Lucia posted 1121.5 points placing them in 2nd position on the board with Grenadas 128 points ahead, giving them a lead to retain the OECS Swim Title. St. Vincent placed 3rd with 1116 points, Antigua achieved 794 points placing them in 4th and St. Kitts Nevis with 57.50 in 5th place.

First place high points were awarded to four dynamic St. Lucian swimmers. Amongst them, 9 – 10-year-old Antoine Destang, 15 – 17-year-old Mikaili Charlemagne and Jayhan Odlum Smith and 18 and over Jean Luc Zephir.

Notably Antoine Destang stood out with an incredible performance of winning every race he swam and setting eight (8) OECS swim records.

On the teams return President Eddie Hazell congratulated the team on their efforts and accomplishments. He also noted “ We knew it would be an extremely competitive competition.

We took the necessary steps to bring in our top overseas swimmers. Though disappointed we were unable to bring the trophy home, our federation is extremely proud of the swimmers fight and determination to reach the top – 2nd Place is a mammoth achievement!”

St. Lucia Aquatics Federation thanks the management team for their endless efforts in supporting the team. The federation also expresses its appreciation the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee, National Lotteries Authority, Digicel, TOGS, Invest Saint Lucia and the parents of all the swimmers.

Saint Lucia will be the host country of the 2020 30th OECS Swim Championship.

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