JAMAICA closed the fourth annual Bahamas International Dragon Boat Festival yesterday with victories in their second-round mixed and open heats, powering their way into today’s seeded finals of the 200-metre events at Goodman’s Bay in Nassau.

In danger of not being seeded in the top-half of today’s final after posting a first-heat time of 1:05.17, Jamaica rebounded with 1:03.95 in the second round.

Surprisingly, the mixed team, fielding four females, Denise Romero-Williams and the Russells — matriarch Chue-Ping Wong Russell joined by daughters Danielle and Cassandra — posted a faster first-round time than the all-male open team, 1:04.79, before returning to win their second heat, booking a top-tier spot for today’s final.

Explaining the finishing times, Captain Jason McKay says lane draws and the changing currents affected teams throughout the day.

“Lane draws are directly impacted by the currents,” he said. “It might be against you in the morning but in your favour late afternoon. Our mixed team clocked a faster time than our open team in the first round but not the second round. There were no changes to either squad.”

All teams will be informed overnight of their aggregate times, which place them into seeded groups of top and bottom halves for today’s finals, McKay promising a better showing for both mixed and open teams.

“We earned a lot on the first day,” he said. “We will only get better with each race. This is our second international tournament and first away experience. To have won both our second heats was amazing.”

Jamaica is among 27 teams from North America and the Caribbean, and fields two teams in the open and mixed-team 200-metre events, 17 competitors — 13 males and four females.