ALIA ATKINSON and Brad Hamilton swam impressively to mine gold in the Winter Championships being held at the Plantation Aquatic Complex in Florida.The three were among a group of Jamaicans swimming for four Florida-based teams.
Atkinson snared two gold and one silver. Her first gold came in the 100-metre breaststroke in a quick 1:09.69. In the same event, Tornadoes' Tamari Farquharson placed eighth in 1:17.98.
Her second gold came in the 50m butterfly in 28.23. Although Atkinson placed second in the 100m individual medley behind Pine Crest's Brooke Atkinson (1:02.47), her time of 1:02.81 placed her in the top 16 times done in the US for this event.
Hamilton, swimming for the national squad, won gold in the 11-12 age group 50m butterfly. He picked up a silver in the 100m individual medley (1:02.88) and placed seventh in the 200-yard freestyle (2:02.15).
Tornadoes' Robert Chen won the 11-12 100m breaststroke in 1:12.06 ahead of Space Coast Swim's Jake Frazier who swam 1:12.19.
Dominic Lee (Jamaica squad) and Allison Bardowell (Fort Lauderdale swim team) placed fourth and 10th in their events.
Competing in the 15-16 category, Bardowell swam 1:57.31 in the 200m freestyle for fourth and 1:01.68 for 10th in the 100m.
Lee's fourth place finish was in the 15-16 200m breaststroke (2:19.74) while placing 10th in the 100m butterfly (58.10).
