MAYBERRY Invest-ment Limited has partnered with the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) to host the 16th staging of their annual Schools’ Swimming Championships at the National Aquatics Centre this weekend.

The investment and financial advisory firm launched the event with a $400,000 sponsorship cheque at its offices yesterday.

Anika Smith, assistant vice-president of marketing at Mayberry, reiterated the firm’s continued drive in its role in the development of the young people in Jamaica.

“We have been doing this for 16 years now, for us it is a marquee event and it is our way of giving back to youth development. We know that sports plays a very important role in the lives of our children and we are happy to be a part of it and hope to be doing it for many more years to come,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Vice-president of the ASAJ Allan Marsh praised the financial firm for its long-lasting investment in the championship that has played an integral role in the lives of many of Jamaica’s successful swimmers.

“Having a partner like Mayberry is so important because we are not just talking about being great swimmers… yes we want to be good athletes, but it’s really about transforming lives. This championship has been one of the earliest competitive meets afforded to our aspiring national swimmers and has served as a very important foundation for their successful swimming careers,” said Marsh.

He further explained that some of the country’s successful athletes such as Olympian Alia Atkinson, multiple Carifta medallist Breanna Roman and Timothy Wynter, who is a World Junior Championship semi-finalist, had their start at this swim meet.

The Mayberry championship will be the final local competition before the Carifta Swimming Championships in Aruba and is also the largest swimming competition in Jamaica.

There will be over 1,100 swimmers from across the island participating from 62 schools — 36 preparatory and primary, 24 high schools and two tertiary institutions.

The competiton will dive into action tomorrow with the high school and university section, and will conclude on Saturday with the preparatory and primary action.

Fourteen members of Jamaica’s Carifta swim team will be on show.