Jamaica’s young swim sensations have once again left their coaches and parents beaming with pride following a successful outing at the recently concluded 35th Carifta Swimming Championships in Barbados.

Most local members of the 33-strong team returned to the island on Thursday with their largest ever medal haul in the history of the championship, as they again demonstrated their prowess among their more illustrious regional rivals.

The 64-medal haul — 17 gold, 25 silver and 22 bronze — saw Jamaica bettering its previous best tally of 59 medals won in 2019. They also placed second on the overall points standing, totalling 833.75 points behind the Bahamas with 975 points.

Team manager Debbie-Ann Kennedy believes the rising stars not only represented the country with pride, but also moved the bar for team expectations and individual goals to a whole new level.

“Team Jamaica ‘s performance at the 2022 Carifta Swimming Championship in Barbados was an exceptional and memorable experience, certainly one for the history books,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

“The team surpassed all expectations; from day one the swimmers were qualifying for their finals and performing at optimal levels, while improving their personal best times as well as record-breaking times,” she added.

While the country’s rising stars were doing their thing at the three-day 49th Carifta Games at the National Stadium, Sabrina Lyn and her peers were taking regional counterparts to task in the pool at the four-day aquatic championships.

Lyn won four individual gold medals and four relay medals — three gold and one silver. In her 100m butterfly swim on Saturday’s first day, she registered a new national age group and meet record of 1:02.14. She lowered the previous record of 1:03.48 by Kelsie Campbell in 2016.

The former Tornadoes Swim Club representative, now based overseas, was also part of the winning girls’ 15-17 4×100-metre freestyle relay team which won their event in a new championship record of 3:58.87. Mackenzie Headley, Morgan Cogle and Leanna Wainwright were the other members of the team.

Lyn was also a part of the 4x50m relay team which topped the field also new championship record of 1:47.91.

Brady Macpherson-Lewison was the team’s top male performer with six individual medals — three gold, two silver and one bronze, plus four relay silver medals.

While reflecting on the performances, Kennedy pointed out that the leadership and energy of the team was second to none, and the pride and respect was felt each time the swimmers stepped on deck together.

“Each swimmer within their respective age group demonstrated comraderie and sportsmanship while skilfully executing their event,” said Kennedy.

“Our mantra ‘out of many, we are one team’ resonated throughout the championships and ultimately contributed to our success and I am proud to have played an integral role in supporting the swimmers and the team,” she noted.

Among other scintillating performances were the boys’ 15-17 4x50m freestyle relay team that clocked a new national age group and a senior record of 1:37.79.

Debutant Mackenzie Headley also established a new meet record in the girls’ 15-17 50m butterfly, clocking 27.79s, bettering the previous was 28.00 set back in 2018.

Meanwhile, Kaizen Swim Club’s Rory Alvaranga, also lauded the swimmers for their impressive display across the four days.

“The swimmers did exceptionally well not just by way of the medal count but also with the quality of their execution in each swim. We had debutants that achieved personal bests and championship records and there was nothing like seeing the kids on podium.

“Personally, I am elated that Team Jamaica did well and from a Kaizen Swim Club perspective, our swimmers’ performances speaks volumes of our programme as one of the newest and smaller clubs,” Alvaranga said.

He also expressed gratitude to minister of sports Olivia Grange for her invaluable contribution in easing the burden on the parents pockets and, by extension, making the trip possible.

“I want to thank the honourable minister for her support, the results and performance by the team justifies that it is money well spent and I do believe that if we can unite as coaches on the ground we can win the Carifta Swimming Championships.

“This is the second time we are placing just behind Bahamas, so if we can just work together and get more swimmers in the middle-distance programme, we can get more points and bring some prestige to Jamaica, much like the track and field team does,” Alvaranga opined.