The Virgin Islands National Swim Team competed in the XXVIII Central American and Caribbean Swimming Championships (CCCAN) July 1-5 in San Jose, Costa Rica. CCCAN is a high level regional swim meet offered to Central American and Caribbean Countries. Representing the National Team were eight swimmers, two coaches, a team manager and a meet official. The team was composed of head coach John Vasbinder , assistant coach Brian Brady, team official Brent Mays, team delegate Cinthia Sanes and swimmers: Cay lee Watson, JJ Washshah, Brigittte Rasmussen, Portia Norkaitis, Sasha Klein, Victor Torres, Matthew Mays and Bryson Mays. Over 400 swimmers from 19 different nations competed in this meet.
Highlights of the Championships:
Bryson Mays, a student at the Naval Academy, and Brigitte Rasmussen, a student at St. Peter’s University, both Virgin Islanders, did exceptionally well in the championships. Bryson placed 2nd in the 200m butterfly and 3rd in the 400m individual medley 18-and-over category. Brigitte placed 3rd in the 200m breaststroke 18-and-over category.
Sasha Klein, a student from the Antilles School on St. Thomas, made finals in some of her events and set a new V.I. record in the 50m freestyle 13-14 age group with a 28.86.
Portia Norkaitis, JJ Washshah, Caylee Watson, Matthew Mays and Victor Torres accomplished personal best times in most of their events and advanced to finals, earning points for the Virgin Islands.
The next high-level swim meet is the 15th FINA World Championships 2013, which will take place in Barcelona July 19 to Aug. 3. The Virgin Islands Swimming Federation will be sending two of its national swimmers to participate in this meet: Caylee Watson and Victor Torres.
For additional information about the swim meets, contact John Vasbinder, national head coach, at 244-7657 and/or Cinthia Sanes at 719-7946/ e-mail: stcroixdolphins@gmail.com.
Anyone who would like to be a part of this rewarding sport, please contact the Dolphins Swim Team on St. Croix at 719-7946 or e-mail at stcroixdolphins@gmail.com. On St. Thomas, contact the Stingrays Swim Team at 779-7872 or e-mail at info@sttswimming.org.
