LOCAL swimming sensation Leanne McMaster had an impressive performance at the Walter Rodgers Age Group Championships winning 11 medals, six of which were gold.

The 16-year-old Y Speedos captain added to the lustre of the medal haul by recording personal bests in all but three of her races. For her tremendous efforts she won the 15 and over women’s category amassing 89 points.

The Campionite said her efforts came as a bit of a surprise as she had just overcome a brief illness and had only just returned from national duties with the water polo team.

The swimmer, who is conditioned at the Y Speedos swim club under the tutelage of coach Michael Wilson, has set her eyes on earning an individual medal at the Carifta Games to be held in Savanetta, Aruba, in the butterfly or breaststroke events.

The talented teenager, who does nine sessions a week, averaging 40 to 45,000 metres, will also have her sights on the upcoming Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games and the Commonwealth Games. She qualified for the Caribbean Island Swimming Championships in Barbados by virtue of the quality of her swims in the 100-m freestyle, 100m breaststroke and 100-m butterfly.

Her coach was delighted: “I am pleased with her performances, especially in the 100-metre butterfly and 100-metre breaststroke, and I expect her to build upon these performances for the Carifta Games.”

McMaster and Cayman Islands-based Danielle Boothe will be the leaders among the 15-17 age group as they will be relied on heavily to score points, as Breanna Roman and Zara Bailey are no longer eligible for Carifta.

McMaster will lead the local-based charge of female swimmers this year expecting to make an impact at senior national meets. She could possibly be a part of the 400m freestyle and 400m medley relay teams at Commonwealth and CAC Games that will be looking to lower the national standards in these events.

She won gold medals in the 400 IM in 5:31.63 minutes; 200m freestyle in 2:15.80; 50-m breaststroke in 35.87 seconds; 200-m breaststroke in 2:53.69 minutes; 100-m freestyle in 1:01.68 minutes, and 100-m breaststroke in 1:17.27 minutes.

She earned her silver medals in 400-m freestyle in 4:54.36 minutes; 50-m butterfly in 30.52 seconds; 800-m freestyle in 10:28.00 minutes; 100-m butterfly in 1:06.76 minutes, and 50-m freestyle in 28.42 seconds.