2023 Gallagher Swimming Championships

BSSS at 2023 Gallagher

Forty swimmers from Black Sands Swim Squad (BSSS) competed in the SVG Gallagher Invitational National Swimming Championships held from the 16th to 19th February 2023. A total of 157 medals were won during the competition (61 Gold, 57 Silver and 39 Bronze). Those medal winners were:

For the girls:

  • Azalea Cox 1 Gold
  • Kevern Dasilva 2 Gold, 3 Bronze
  • Mya DeFreitas 3 Gold, 3 Silver, 2 Bronze
  • Abigail Deshong 3 Gold, 3 Silver, 3 Bronze
  • Amelia Des Vignes 2 Bronze
  • Kennice Greene 5 Gold, 5 Silver, 1 Bronze
  • Ayibanua Griffith 1 Gold, 2 Silver
  • Ebiwarebo Griffith 1 Bronze
  • Tia Gun-Munro 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze
  • Ira Hadley 2 Golds, 1 Silver
  • Eltonique Leonard 1 Gold, 8 Silver
  • Zariel Nelson 9 Gold
  • Keyana Paudel 1 Bronze
  • Arielle Pierre 1 Silver, 6 Bronze
  • Nia Quashie 3 Bronze

Ayibanua GriffithFor the boys:

                    • Kenale Alleyne 6 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze
                    • Matthew Ballah 7 Gold, 1 Silver
                    • Seth Byron 5 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze
                    • Alexander Cummings 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
                    • Kione Deshong 12 Silver
                    • Brandon George 3 Gold, 2 Silver, 4 Bronze
                    • Bryson George 1 Gold, 5 Silver, 1 Bronze
                    • Jamario Jones 2 Silver, 1 Bronze
                    • Nikolas Sylvester 4 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze

 

A total of five National records were broken by BSSS swimmers at the meet. In the boys 13-14 age group, Matthew Ballah broke the 100m IM record in a time of 1:03.33. In the boys 15-16 age group, Brandon George broke two records the 100m Backstroke in a time of 1:00.90 and 200m Backstroke in a time of 2:16.28. In the boys 15 & over age category, Kenale Alleyne broke his own 200m freestyle record in a time of 1:58.07. Swimming in the girls 15 & over age category, Mya DeFreitas broke her own record in the 200m freestyle in a time of 2:09.67.

Ayibanua Griffith won the sprint challenge for the girls 8 & under age category and also took the overall champion trophy and in the girls and boys 15 & over category Kennice Greene and Kenale Alleyne did the same.

SVG’s up and coming Para swimmers Anniah John and Kentreal Kydd also competed and made considerable improvements to their times.

Swimmers that also competed were Tristan Ballah, Aniyah Deane, Dariana Des Vignes, Clarice Drakes, Janai George, Jonathan George, Perezideh Griffith, Raven Hadley, Nevaeh Henry, Kyle John, Tajiri Layne, Louichya Premraj, Nevaeh Quammie and Dacari Quashie.

BSSS Head Coach Kyle Dougan said “BSSS swimmers continue to out-perform in competition and this year’s Gallagher Championships held this weekend was no exception. Great results by all swimmers with many personal best times which continues to prove their ongoing commitment and dedication to the sport prevails. A huge congratulations to Blue Marlins Swim Club winning the top performing club showing the strength and depth of their team. I continue to be very proud of all BSSS swimmers and the efforts of the coaching staff and we look forward to another great year of competition.”