With last year’s impressive haul still fresh on his mind, coach Rory Alvaranga is anticipating another stellar round of performances from Jamaica’s young sensations at this year’s 38th staging of the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT) invitational championships in Couva.

Alvaranga, coach and father of rising star Zaneta, has been one of those championing the cause for swimmers to be exposed to meets such as these as part of their development ahead of Carifta and other major championships in the year ahead.

The ASATT invitational, held mid-December each year, is one such meet where some of Jamaica’s elite athletes have evolved, namely Olympian and world record holder Alia Atkinson.

According to Alvaranga, the ASATT invitational is fast becoming a staple swim meet for local standouts seeking a “highly competitive and intense atmosphere to strengthen their mental and physical capacity”, as it attracts over 400 swimmers from Barbados, Guyana, St Lucia, Sierra Leon among others.

“This (meet) has always been a part of my endeavour to develop my swimmers to their fullest potential and after watching them compete there the first time, I etched it in my schedule as the December meet for my swimmers for more reasons than one,” Alvaranga told the Jamaica Observer.

“Travelling to meets like this allows the swimmers to develop the mental aptitude required to compete at higher levels like a Carifta and beyond. They have done extremely well over the past two years and I am expecting this year to be no different.

“While not all swimmers are seeking cuts for national squads the experience at a meet of this caliber goes a far way in the development of the swimmers and, based on what I have seen over the years, I can confidently say that the results have followed,” he added.

When fielding an eight-member team last year, the country claimed an impressive haul of 19 medals, including six gold, eight silver and five bronze, which represented a significant improvement from the 2015 haul of six medals.

Though small in number, the talented bunch made their presence felt throughout with two of the three local clubs represented, finishing within the top 20 of the over 35 teams from seven countries that participated.

As a result of that, some 35 swimmers from four clubs — six of whom have represented Jamaica at Carifta swimming championships and other international games — are now set to grace the National Aquatic Centre in the twin-island republic, with hopes of bettering last year’s tally.

The Alvaranga-coached and recently formed Kaizen Swim Club will be represented by Imani Salmon, Layllani Foster, Khiara Roomes, Kaheem Lozer and Zaneta Alvaranga, who accounted for seven of the medals last year.

He will also oversee duties for Marlins Swim Club to be represented by 9-10 age-group swimmers Sayidah Brown, Giana Francis, Christanya Shirley and Kokolo Foster, as well as siblings Raina and Kara Hutchinson, representing Sailfish SwimmingAcademy.

Tana Ricketts-Roomes will act as manager for all three teams.

Meanwhile, Y-Speedos Swim Club, to be managed by recently installed vice-president of swimming Georgia Sinclair accompanied by coach Gillian Millwood, boasts a stellar team of Naomi Eaton, Karci Gibson, Callier Maxwell, Saamanta Selvon, Sage Sinclair, Chester Adams, Akeem Alleyne, Dante Duet, Ernest Hoo Kim, Javaun Jackson, Zack-Andre Johnson, Jordane Payne, Kyle Sinclair and Brandon Wong.

Alvaranga was beaming at the prospects ahead of the team’s departure tomorrow.

“The support team tries to mimic a team travelling scenario similar to a national team from the housing arrangements and so on, and I am particularly pleased with not only the quality but the quantity of swimmers that will be representing this year — and it all augurs well for the sport from a local standpoint.

“With that said, we have been doing some fine tuning ahead of departure on Wednesday and I know coach Millwood and her team have been putting in some good work as well. So like I said earlier, though most of these swimmers are not searching for qualifying cuts, they will be seeking some year end best times and we anticipate a lot of that,” Alvaranga noted.