July 25, 2008 — The Virgin Islands National Swim Team won a total of five medals and broke one Virgin Island Swimming Federation record at the 2008 Caribbean Island Swimming Championships in Kingston, Jamaica this month.
The CISC championships are the second level in championships on the way to Olympic qualifying and are held every two years. Five swimmers from the Virgin Islands competed in the championships, held from July 16-24: Ryan
Nelthropp, 18; Bryson Mays, 13; Sam Shogren, 16; Devontai Stevens, 14; and Jemille Vialet, 16.
The team was accompanied by Hans Lawaetz, chairperson of the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee who also served as the V.I. swimming delegate at the meet. The team was coached by Kevin Tyrrell, also head coach of the St. Croix Dolphins swim team.
Highlights of the meet included:
– Vialet breaking a 25-year-old record for the Virgin Islands in the 50 Backstroke with a time of 28.90 (the previous record was 29.20 set on April 1, 1983 by Erik Roskopf);
– Nelthropp winning medals in the 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 50 backstroke and 200 backstroke on his way to winning five medals, including first-place gold in the 400 freestyle;
– Mays swimming six seconds faster than his personal best in the 200 butterfly, placing 6th for the V.I.;
– Shogren dropping three seconds off his best time to finish sixth in the 200 butterfly;
– Stevens scoring points for the V.I. in the 50 backstroke and 200 backstroke.
Next up for the V.I. National Team swimmers are the Olympic Games in Beijing, China to be held August 8-18, where Joshua Laban will be competing in the 50 freestyle. Jemille Vialet will be participating in the Olympic Ambassador program, learning about other countries and cultures as well as seeing athletic competitions such as swimming. Vialet is aiming for the London Olympics in 2012.
The Virgin Islands Swimming Federation invites any swimmers and parents who might be interested in swimming to contact them at one of their member clubs including the St. Croix Dolphins at 719-7946 or dolphinscoach@islands.vi (their pool is located on the campus of Country Day School), or the St. Thomas Stingrays at 776-9792. Swimmers may participate in their swim lesson programs or join the swim team.
