The Tornadoes Swim Club delivered an outstanding performance at the 2024 Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) Christmas Open held from December 14 to 17 at the National Aquatic Centre in Kingston. The four-day meet featured fierce competition with participation from 17 clubs, including seven from across the Cayman Islands, Barbados, and the Bahamas.

In a standout showing, the Tornadoes Swim Club not only set meet records but also achieved a national record, marking a significant milestone for both the club and Jamaican swimming. The 11-12-year-old team of Kai Lawson, Emanuelle Spence, Anna-Lyssa Cooke, and Kia Alert broke the record in the 800m freestyle relay with a time of 10:07.65 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 10:11.80 set by the Tornadoes Swim Club in 2018. The record is to be ratified by the ASAJ Council.

The relay team showcased an extraordinary blend of talent and teamwork. Kai Lawson, who attends Wolmer’s High School for Girls, swam the opening leg, followed by Emanuelle Spence, a student at Hillel Academy, then Anna-Lyssa Cooke from Campion College, and Kia Alert, also from Hillel Academy.

Head Coach Wendy Lee, a national coach and owner of the Tornadoes Swim Club, expressed her pride in the team’s achievement.

“I am beyond excited about this national record,” she said. “From the start of the season we focused on middle-distance events, and the results are showing. I am especially proud of the girls, as their hard work and dedication paid off.

“This is a huge accomplishment for the team. It reflects the strong foundation we have built, and I am thrilled to see them follow in the footsteps of past athletes like Sabrina Lyn, who went on to achieve recognition on the world stage by competing at the Olympics.”

ASAJ vice-president for swimming, Hilary Brown Nixon, also lauded the team’s performance, highlighting the meet’s success and the athletes’ dedication.

“The Christmas Open 2024 was a fantastic meet,” Brown Nixon said. “We saw several records fall, and we are particularly proud, especially of our 11-to-12-year-old girls, who set a new national record in the 4x200m relay. What it shows is that the sport is growing in Jamaica. The kids are swimming faster, and faster swimmers of today will be faster swimmers of tomorrow. We are proud of the work these children put in and their rigorous training schedules. Their efforts have been rewarded, and the ASAJ extends our heartiest congratulations to these new record holders and all others who shone at the Christmas Open meet. We look forward to seeing what the future will bring.”

Alert, who anchored the record-breaking relay team, reflected on the team’s success.

“We all worked so hard leading up to this meet, and breaking the national record was just a plus to it, but I am so proud of being able to share this achievement with my teammates,” she said. “I am also thankful to our coaches and our respective families for helping us get there.”