TIDAL Wave Aquatics’ Jahmia Harley and Marlins’ Marena Martinez set new national short course records on days four and five respectively at the National Age Group Short Course Championships at the Aquatic Centre in Balmain, Couva.

On July 12, Harley won the 18 and over girls’ 100m backstroke in a speedy one minute and 03.21 seconds (1:03.21) to eclipse Ornella Walker’s 2019 time of 1:03.22.

In the process, Harley surpassed the field by some distance as Blue Dolphins’ Kiara Goodridge came in second (1:16.41) while Tiger Sharks’ Makable Mohammed (1:21.69) rounded off the top three.

Later on, Harley, 21, was also victorious in the 18 and over girls’ 50m backstroke time trial. She clocked 29.18s.

Additionally, during the morning session on July 13, Martinez also executed a dominant, record-breaking performance in the 11-12 girls’ 1500m freestyle.

Twelve-year old Martinez swam brilliantly to win in 18:55.22, which bettered the previous short record of 19:17.46, set by Amelia Rajack in 2019. Club mate Zara Persico, who currently holds the 11-12 girls’ 800m freestyle long course record, touched the wall in second place, in 20:26.43.

Meanwhile, in the 15-17 boys’ 50m breaststroke, the five top finishers attained Goodwill Swim Meet A qualifying times.

RWB Aquatics’ Anpherne Bernard won the event in 30.21s while Marlins’ pair Liam Carrington (30.64s) and Zachary Anthony (30.82s) completed the top three respectively. Also dipping below the Goodwill standard of 31.35s were RWB’s Shaelen Reece (30.96s) and Marlins’ Khadeem Brathwaite (31.07s), fourth and fifth in that order.

Also achieving Goodwill A standards were Blue Dolphins’ Asia-Marie Pouchet (1:10.08), Tidal Wave’s Alyssa Reid (1:11.96) and Point Fortin Aqua Darts’ Keimayah Rouse (1:14.45). They all bettered the 1:14.46 qualifying time.

And in the 11-12 boys’ 50m backstroke, RWB’s Kyle Leera was the only swimmer to gain Goodwill qualification with his victorious 34.80s swim. Claiming second place, but outside of the Goodwill 36.16s standard, was Flying Fish’s Kaiden Andrews (39.09s) while Tidal Wave’s Jeremiah Mahabir (39.62s) was third.

Also, Atlantis’ Riquelio Joseph swam to victory in the 18 and over boys’ 200m individual medley in 2.17.61. he beat to the line Dorado’s Delroy Tyrell (2.18.26) of Guyana.

The post Jahmia Harley, Marena Martinez set new national short course swim records appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.