Region One three-peat in swimming at Heritage Games
Region One’s coach Steve La Rose (second from left) collects the championship trophy from Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe. (Faizool Deo photos)
Region One’s coach Steve La Rose (second from left) collects the championship trophy from Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe. (Faizool Deo photos)

By Faizool Deo

REGION One solidified their dominance in the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Heritage Games, by repeating as swimming champions for the third consecutive year, yesterday, at the National Aquatic Centre.

After 24 events, the Steve La Rose-coached side had amassed 282 points, over a hundred more than second-place finishers Region Two, who ended with 177.

Former national swimmer La Rose said that the dominance by his swimmers was due to their hard work and consistency in the water.

The retired teacher, who has been instrumental in teaching swimming in Moruca, said that all the swimmers were focussed on retaining the title.

Region Three finished third on 68 points, with Region Five on 62 points. First-timers Region Seven with only two swimmers (Lisa and Saskia Ramraj) finished fifth after amassing 39 points, while Region Nine, who also had two swimmers (national swimmer Coleen Stephen and Josh Xavier), placed sixth with 24 points and Region Six with lone swimmer Waveney Johnson finished on five points.

Seven regions competed at the meet.

WILLIAMS SISTERS DOMINANCE
Twin sisters Lavon and Lavona Williams and youngster sister Nakesha dominated the 18-and-over Girls’ individual races.

Lavon, who is marginally older, finished with a whopping 27 points. The 22-year-old was one of only four swimmers to win all three races (100m freestyle 1:28.28, 50m backstroke 55.38 and 25m freestyle 17.30s).

Lavona, who finished second in the 100m freestyle and the 25m freestyle and third in the 50m backstroke, finished on 20 points. Their youngster sister Nakesha (21 years old) was also in the mix after she finished on 19 points (one silver and two bronze).

Darius Williams, also from Region Two, swept the 18-and-over Boys’ division with three wins.  He won the 50m backstroke in 36.12s, while he won the 100m freestyle in 1:05.22s and the 25m freestyle in 13.36s.

Melon Lucas finished as the top 11-12 year-old male swimmer. He won the 100m freestyle in a time of 1:11.08s, the 50m back in 43.75s and the 25m freestyle in 14.65s.

The other overall individual top finisher was Region Two swimmer Ramesh Lyte. The 16-year-old won all three events in the Boys’ 15-17 age division.  He won the 100m freestyle in 1:08.30s, the 50m backstroke in 35.15s and the 25m freestyle in 13.26s.

Other dominant individual performances came from Corrie-Ann Campo from Region Three in the 11-12 Girls’ Division. The 11-year-old finished on 18 points. Region One’s Allianna Charles, who won two gold medals and a silver led the 13-14 Girls’ Division with 25 points.

Lisa Ramraj who won the backstroke and finished with two freestyle silver medals topped the 15-17 Girls’ Division. Stephen, who won both the 100m and the 25m freestyle looked set for a perfect finish in the age division, but was disqualified in the 50m backstroke after an infraction at the 25m turn.  

Meanwhile, fourteen-year-old Lucas Nelson finished with two gold medals and a silver in the 13-14 Boys’ Division.

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