Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
Alia Atkinson ... has heavy workloads to deal with. - FILE
JAMAICAN SWIMMING sensations Alia Atkinson and Brad Hamilton have been selected by the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) to represent the island at the 11th FINA World Swimming Championships in Montreal, Canada.
The two athletes, being the only representatives from Jamaica, will have heavy workloads to deal with when they leave today, as Atkinson will swim in eight events while Hamilton will take part in five.
Hamilton and Atkinson will have the services of national coach Jackie Walter while ASAJ vice-president Kendis Nangle will be the team manager. Atkinson will also benefit from having her personal coach, Chris Anderson, available.
The World Championships include competition in all five aquatic disciplines: swimming, water polo, synchronised swimming, diving and open water swimming.
The swimming competition starts on Sunday and ends on Sunday, July 31. On August 1, the team will travel directly to Santo Domingo where Atkinson and Hamilton will lead Jamaica's hunt for medals at the XXIII Central America and Caribbean Swimming Championships (CCCAN).
REBUILDING PROGRAMME
Both athletes are part of Jamaica's rebuilding programme after the retirement of Janelle Atkinson and Angela Chuck, and are expected to garner experience ahead of the 2008 Beijing, China Olympics.
However, Walter said she is looking for good things from Atkinson in the 100 metre breaststroke.
"We are going for experience. Alia, I hope, will get into the semi-finals of the 100m breaststroke and Brad is really in need of racing experience in his development towards the 2008 Olympics," explained Walter.
ASAJ president John Eyre will attend the Championships as a swimming technical official. Eyre, who is one of eight swimming judges selected by FINA from the Americas region, will act as a stroke and turn judge. He and Nangle will also represent Jamaica at the FINA General Congress to be held tomorrow.
