KINGSTON, Jamaica – Alecia Newman, assistant coach of the Special Olympics Jamaica (SOJ) aquatics team, was pleased with the performances at Saturday’s fourth staging of the annual national swim meet hosted at the University of Technology (UTech).  

“We have been trying to get participants from different places in the island so that it is representative of a national competition. On Saturday, we had a lot of newcomers to the swim meet, coming off the high of Olympics last year. The newcomers did exceptionally well and the vibe was jubilant as it usually is. Parents, members of the SOJ family, and other spectators gave great support,” she told OBSERVER ONLINE.

Kadian Ingleton and Leon Barclay, two of the swimmers who featured for Jamaica at last summer’s Special Olympic Games in California, United States, won five gold medals each.

Newcomer Gregory Meikle grabbed two gold medals, while fellow first-timers Trey Tulloch and Jahleel Wright were credited as most improved swimmers due to the lowering of their personal best times. Newman congratulated Chad Whyte for his “excellent” delivery of the opening ceremony.

The patron for the meet was Sarah Newland-Martin, while Dr Barbara Matalon brought greetings on behalf of the SOJ board of directors.

Sanjay Myers