Two swimmers – Lindsay Barr of St. Thomas and Michael Dizon-Bumann of St. Croix – qualified for the Virgin Islands National Team (a combination of the St. Croix and St. Thomas teams) this past weekend at the V.I. Swimming Federation’s two-day championship meet. This brings the number of swimmers on the V.I. National Team to 13.
The team will compete Dec. 2-4 in San Juan and will travel to compete in the CARIFTA (Caribbean Free Trade Association) Swimming Championships in the Bahamas April 15-19, 2017.
Members of the St. Thomas Stingrays and the St. Croix Dolphins, 108 swimmers in all, competed Saturday and Sunday at the St. Thomas Aquatic Center on St. Thomas. “It was one of the most competitive swim meets we have ever held,” said John Vasbinder, executive director and head coach of the St. Thomas Swimming Association (STSA). “The kids were having a ball.”
In addition to achieving National Team qualifying times, several swimmers set individual and relay records. The Stingrays Ky Odlum, Max Wilson, Fion Hughes, Audrey Moore and Lindsay Barr set individual records, as did St. Croix Dolphins Kaeden Gleason and Matthew Mays.
Stingray Cooper Bared, 8, was all smiles as he climbed out of the pool after placing first in his freestyle heat. “I’ve been practicing a long time — well, not a long time. Three practices a week for three weeks,” he admitted.
Jaidan Camacho, 12, a St. Croix Dolphin, placed first in his 50-meter freestyle heat.
STSA is a non-profit 501, (C)( 3) organization located at 6501 Red Hook, Plaza Suite 201, St. Thomas, USVI 00802 (Call 779-7872 or e-mail: stsaswimming@gmail.com or visit Web site: stthomasswimming.org
Three V.I. National Team swimmers, J.J.Washash (St. Croix), Caylee Watson (St. Croix) and Greg Penny (St. Thomas) will compete in the World Championships in Windsor, Canada, Dec. 6 – 11.
The St. Thomas Swimming Association (STSA) is committed to providing and promoting competitive and recreational swimming and water safety programs to its members and all members of the community.
For a schedule of swimming classes, rates and team membership, call the STSA at 779-7872.
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St. Thomas Stingrays: Individual Records Set:
Ky Odlum: 50-meter freestyle
Ky Odlum: 100-meter butterfly
Max Wilson: 100-meter backstroke
Audrey Moore: 400-meter individual medley
Lindsay Barr: 200-meter backstroke
St. Croix Dolphins – Individual Records Set:
Kaeden Gleason: 200-meter freestyle
Kaeden Gleason: 100-meter freestyle