Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

Jackie Walter, technical director of the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica, said she was pleased with the hosts' performance at the end of day one of the four-day Carifta Swimming championships, which began at the national Stadium Pool on the Saturday.

"I am quite pleased with the day's performance. We have medaled in five out of six relays and because the relays bring a lot of points it is very important that we score well in the relays," said Walter.

Jamaica occupied fourth place in the standings at the end of Saturday's schedule with 172 points after 26 finals. Defending champions, the Antilles of French Guyana (AGF), lead the point standings with 242.5, with Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) in second place with 215.50, and Bahamas (BAH) 212.50.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Portia Simpson Miller, Prime Minster and Minster of Sports, told the participants to continue to give of their best for their country.

"You have been guided by mentors and supported by others who care about your development. Already you have proven that you have what it takes to be a winner," said Simpson Miller. "To have earned a place on your country's team is a clear indication that you have demonstrated star quality and maybe even superstar potential," she said.

Jamaica's Kendese Nangle and Brad Hamilton both won individual gold medals.

Nangle won the girls' 11-12 50metres backstroke in a new championship record time of 32.80, erasing the previous mark of 33.10 held by Allison Fenasse of (AGF). Bria Deveaux was second in (33.54).

Boys' 100m-butterfly event

Hamilton captured the boys' 15-17 100m butterfly event in (57.23) in front of Vereance Burrows of (BAH) (58.26) and Cedric Renard of (AGF) in (58.45).

Jamaica also won the girls' 11-12 400m freestyle relay in 4:23.20 ahead of (AGF) 4:25.84 and (BAH) 4:25.89.

Mickey van der Vaart of Aruba won the boys' 13 and over 1500m freestyle in 16:53.41 ahead of (AGF) Enzo Vital Collet 17: 11.91 and (Jam) Dominic Walter 17:14.32.

Kimba Collymore of (T&T) won the girls' 15-17 200m breaststroke in 2:42.40 ahead of Alicia Lightmore 2:42.79 and Anthaya Rolle 2:48.09 both of (BAH), while the Cayman Island's Joel Rombough won the boy's 15-17 breaststroke in 2:33.70 ahead of Matthew Hilton of (JAM) 2:34.07 and Jann Bazile of (AGF) 2:39.80.

Valy Pelagie of (AFG) captured the boys' 11-12 50m backstroke in 31.66 ahead of Suriname's Glen Gemerts 32.96 and Grenada's Nicolas Coard 33.17.