THE MAYBERRY All-Island Swim Meet, held on March 15 and 16 at the National Aquatics Centre, National Stadium, saw the convergence of Jamaica’s most promising young swimmers for two days of thrilling competition.
Sponsored by Mayberry Investments Limited, the event highlighted the remarkable talent and fierce determination of Jamaican swimmers across various age categories.
From the youngest competitors in the 6-and-under division to the seasoned athletes in the 17-and-over division, the pool was alive with energy and excitement.
With 28 schools and 529 athletes participating in the secondary and tertiary championship, the atmosphere was electrifying as competitors vied for top honours.
Among the girls, Immaculate Conception High School emerged victorious with an impressive 621 points, followed by Campion College with 360. St Andrew High for Girls secured the third spot with 317 points, while Hillel Academy High and Montego Bay High School rounded out the top five.
Among the boys, Wolmer’s Boys’ School claimed the top spot with 469 points, narrowly edging out Campion College, who landed 461. Jamaica College secured third place with 299 points, followed by Kingston College and Cornwall College in fourth and fifth place, respectively.
FILLED WITH PRIDE
Stephanie Harrison, vice president of marketing at Mayberry Investments Limited, expressed admiration for the event, stating, “Witnessing the unfolding of greatness filled me with immense pride on behalf of Mayberry. We are honoured to contribute to this enduring legacy,” said Harrison.
The meet witnessed several record-breaking performances, with Zach Andre Johnson and Nelson Denny setting new records in the 15-16 category. Leanna Wainwright from Montego Bay High School showcased her dominance in the backstroke, setting a new record of 30.1 seconds in the 17 and over 50-metre event. Christanya Shirley and Aliyah Heaven delivered stellar performances in the 15-16 and 17 and over category, respectively, while Kyle Radcliffe impressed in the 13-14 boys’ 50m breaststroke.
High points were awarded to outstanding athletes in each age category, with notable mentions, including Kia Alert of Hillel Academy and Cameron Brown of Cardigan Mountain in the 12-and-under category; Rhianna Scott of Immaculate and Julian Willoughby of Campion College in the 13 -14 category; and Kristania Shirley of Immaculate and Nelson Denny of Kingston Online in the 15-16 category, all of whom have represented Jamaica.
Within the preparatory and primary school cohorts, 40 schools participated, bringing together 555 promising young athletes.
Notable standouts included Zuri Robertson from Emanuel Christian Academy and Eugene Kim from Hillel Prep.
In the 7-8 age category among the girls, Zahra Howe Baxter of St Andrew Prep School and among the boys, Sergio Dalrymple from Hosana Prep caught attention.
In the 9-10 age group, Kai Lawson from St Hugh’s Preparatory School and Caleb Williams from Vaz Preparatory School showcased their skills, while Addison Thomas and Joel Sinclair from Mona Preparatory School exhibited exceptional talent in the 11-12 age group.
St Hugh’s Proprietary School clinched victory among prep school girls by a mere one-point margin, tallying 192 points to squeeze past Hillel Prep. Mona Preparatory School followed closely behind with 162 points, while Creative Kids Learning Academy secured 128. Emanuel Academy rounded out the top five with a commendable 86 points.
Hillel Prep took charge among the boys, securing first place with 243 points, followed by Sts Peter and Paul, Mona, Stella Morris, and Hopefield prep schools. Excelsior Primary School emerged as the overall champion in the primary division.