MANAGER Georgia Sinclair and Coach Rory Alvaranga have extended commendation to the young JAMZZ team following their exploits at the recently concluded Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad &Tobago (ASATT) Invitational championship. 

Seven young sensations produced a number of creditable performances as they ended with four gold, one silver and one bronze and a total of 125 points to place 14th overall on the 39-team table.

The team was led by the outstanding Zaneta Alvaranga who accounted for four of the six medals and achieved a few national age-group records in the process over the first two days of the four-day meet.

Chester Adams and Jordane Payne later ended the meet in fine style on Sunday with impressive gold medal performances in the 400-metre individual medley (IM) and the 800-metre freestyle, respectively.

“The meet was indeed a success for the Jamaica team and I would like to congratulate the swimmers on their performances. The overall objective was to expose the swimmers to a high level of competition to achieve qualifying times for Carifta and Caribbean Island Swimming Championships (CISC) and more than half of the team achieved some qualifying times for Carifta,” Sinclair told the

Jamaica Observerin a recent interview.

Alvaranga lowered Allison Bardowell’s national age group record of 1:08.32 minutes set back in 1997 with a 1:07.33 minutes clocking in the Girls’ 9-10 100-metre freestyle. She was even more impressive when she clocked a fast 31.15 seconds in the 50-metre butterfly, which also was a national age-group record. The blistering time was also below the Trinidad & Tobago national age-group record of 32.50 seconds set by Kimberly John Williams back in 2004.

However, it was her performance in the 50-metre freestyle which was the highlight of the meet as she made no mistake with her strong underwater swim which propelled her to a dazzling 29.59 seconds. She took apart her old national age-group record of 30.02 seconds in the process and was the first 9-10-year-old swimmer to go under the 30-second mark for the event.

Karci Gibson’s achieved an AAA time of 2:43.97 minutes in the 11-12 Girls’ 200-metre individual medley, which made the cut for the Carifta and CISC championships, while Payne’s time of 2:25.85 minutes in the 13-14 Boys’ 200 metre butterfly event made CISC B qualifying mark.

Sage Sinclair, Kyle Sinclair and Adrian Grant along with Kacy Grant and Jomo McMayo — who represented Blue Seals and Tornadoes Swim Clubs, respectively — also shared in the feat.

Coach Alvaranga, who is the father of Zaneta, was impressed by the character shown by the swimmers and is hopeful the success of the team will result in increased participation to ensure an even better showing next year.

“They showed signs of nerve on the first day which was expected because they are young and their strokes were not as smooth as usual. But after a few encouraging words from myself and the manager, the swimmers showed improved technique, determination and strong character which resulted in the time standards required for the Carifta and CISC,” he noted.

“Everyone gained experience at this meet and going forward, the principles of individuality will be applied to the swimmers for improvement in mental toughness required for competing at higher levels. More meets external to Jamaica will be a great way to teach these principles,” he added.

Alvaranga also extended gratitude to the Sports Development Foundation Scotia Foundation and the administrative and logistical support from the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica.

“All of this would not have been possible without the financial support received and it just goes to show that a little commitment from corporate Jamaica can do a lot for these swimmers. So we look forward to greater support from corporate Jamaica as we continue our journey towards the growth and development of aquatics in general,” he continued.