Jamaica’s 35-member Carifta Swimming Championships team will head to Wildey, Barbados today to take part in the 26th staging of the meet which will be held at the Aquatic Center from April 23-26.

The 29 local-based swimmers will join up with the six from overseas, namely Matthew Chen, Matthew Lyn, Kendese Nangle, Victoria Ho, Brittany Kenny, and Danielle Boothe.

Team manager Wendy Lee said based on team rankings, Jamaica “should earn 16 individual medals and eight relays medals”.

Leading the medal charge are defending champion in the 100m backstroke Timothy Wynter; breaststroke ace Breanna Roman, making a comeback after a one-year injury; Victoria Ho, Angara Sinclair, Priscilla McClure, and D’Agaene Clarke.

“Our expectations are to go out and be challenged. There are 16 other countries competing and they are all coming there to win. We do, however, expect our swimmers will be professional, determined and focused.

“With a new coaching staff we can only expect our swimmers to perform at their best possible standard and that they use this competition as the foundation for future championships,” explained Lee.

She noted that training sessions had gone well with the swimmers, with work on the general fitness, core strength, flexibility and mental aspects of racing.

“…We do not want to go into the championships by overestimating our abilities. Swimming is a very difficult sport and we have a very young group of swimmers for whom travelling to a Caribbean Championship is a first,” she said.

The full members of the team are Octivia Gray, Victoria Ho, Brittany Kenny, Kendese Nangle, Breanna Roman and Alexia Royal-Eatmon in the 15-17 girls; and Jason Craig Burnett, Matthew Chen, Prince Easton, Shaun James and Steven Moodie in the 15-17 boys.

Danielle Boothe, Ivana Chang, Priscilla McClure, Leanna McMaster, Shade Thaxter and Stefani Webley will represent in the 13-14 girls; while Kevaughn Campbell, Justin James, Matthew Lyn, Sidrell Williams, Timothy Wynter, and Antoine Young in the 13-14 boys.

Jamaicans competing in the 11-12 category comprise Brittney Campbell, Annastazia Chin, D’Agaene Clarke, Justine Lopez, Tiara Myrie and Angara Sinclair for the girls; and Cameron Anderson, Shaquiem Cameron, Barak Goren, Yonatan Goren, Xavier Phillips, and Brandon Reid for the boys.

Nathan Brown will travel as head coach, Syreeta Biggs as assistant coach, Dr Jacquiline James as team doctor, Sophia Brown as team physio, and Jackie Knight-Campbell as public relations, with Lee, apart from being team manager, the national technical coordinator.