10 months ago
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DESIREE WHEELER, marketing manager of Mayberry Investments Limited, believes that the annual Mayberry High-Performance Swim Classic is an important development meet for Jamaica’s swimmers.
The two-day meet, set to begin tomorrow at the National Aquatic Centre, is entering its 27th staging.
Wheeler said the meet stands as proof of Mayberry’s long-term investment in Jamaica’s sporting future.
“This is one of our flagship projects that we are so excited about every year. We have been doing this for over two decades, and Mayberry has been very ingrained in sports in general,” Wheeler said.
“We’ve supported numerous sports and it is integral for us because we think sports, particularly swimming, teach dedication and individual discipline as well.”
A special feature of this year’s staging will be the inclusion of a championship-style format for the top performers throughout the two days of competition.
Wheeler explained that this will encourage athletes to compete at their best and provide a competitive atmosphere for swimmers aspiring to the next level of their swimming careers.
“I say this will definitely be a stepping stone for our swimmers’ development. By introducing a high-performance meet itself, the swimmers are encouraged to push themselves to do their best and perform at a high level,” she explained.
“This is one of those competitions where we see a lot of swimmers come through and perfect their craft to then take to the international stage. So we believe this swim meet should be a part of any aspiring swimmer’s journey.”
Lance Rochester, president of the Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica (ASAJ), welcomed the continued partnership between the ASAJ and title sponsors Mayberry Investments in ensuring that the annual competition remains operable for years to come.
“Partnerships are very critical to us and we are very grateful for Mayberry remaining for the 20 years with the ASAJ,” he said.
“They help us to produce a top-class event, an exciting event, and a fun event. We know our athletes really appreciate that, and we are grateful for their feedback as well.”
Rochester said the swim meet is an important stop in the ASAJ calendar as the meet provides not just a competitive space, but also encourages new swimmers to learn the sport.
With the meet open to all schools island-wide, he said this supports the ASAJ’s commitment to ensuring that all aspiring swimmers are able to learn a valuable skill and compete at their respective levels.
“It is an all-island meet, which is extremely important because our objective is to provide learn-to-swim spaces and competitive swimming opportunities right across the island,” the association’s president said.
“It is a very complicated undertaking, but we are progressing along that path. To have a sponsor partner like Mayberry, who are keen on that mission also, helps us to roll out those initiatives over time.”
The swim meet will be split across various categories, with grand prizes for the top primary school, top preparatory school, top high school, and the top tertiary institution.
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