Talented Lani Cabrera, competing in the Girls' 13-14 age group on Thursday's opening day, copped gold in the 800 metres freestyle in a time of nine minutes, 25.99 seconds, ahead of Jamaica's Victoria Ho (9:42.48) and Trinidad and Tobago's Kimberley John-Williams (9:52.59).

Cabrera again made a golden splash in the pool when she sped to victory in the 400 metres individual medley on Friday in a time of five minutes, 16.43 seconds. Once again, Ho was second best (5:25.84) and Trinidadian Kadeja Phillip took the bronze medal (5:30.49).

Excellent form

Zabrina Holder has so far been in excellent form. On Thursday, she added to the gold medal tally with an excellent swim in the Girls' 11-12 age group 100 metres butterfly. She clocked one minute, 12.80 seconds, to finish ahead of Coraline Erin of the French Antilles (1:13.18) and Bryanna Duncan of Trinidad and Tobago (1:14.70).

Holder's versatility has been a feature of her performances and this was brought out on Friday when she added to her medal tally by taking the silver medal in the 50 metres butterfly (31.54) behind Jamaica's Stefani Webley (31:41) and ahead of Breanna Roman (31:71), also from Jamaica.

It was gold again for Holder on Saturday evening when she withstood a strong challenge from home-girl Daniella van den Berg (2:40.27), and her Bajan teammate Deandre Small (2:41.58), to win the 200 metres individual medley in two minutes, 39.98 seconds.

The Charles F. Broome Primary School student was also good for the bronze medal in the 200 metres freestyle, clocking two minutes, 21:57 seconds to finish behind Roman (2:18.06) and silver medallist Nowely Mande (2:18.71) of the French Antilles.

Tight contest

On the opening day, Small clocked 34.35 seconds to take bronze in the 50 metres backstroke. This was a very tight contest with Regine Leito of the Netherland Antilles grabbing the gold in 34.11 seconds and Suriname's Xaenne Tjoen A Choy (34.16) winning the silver.

Raymond Edwards added to the smiles in the Bajan camp on the opening day when he took the silver medal in the Boys' 15-17 200 metres breaststroke (2:36.16). This event was won by the French Antilles' Ganesh Pedurand (2:32.61) and third place went to Bermuda's Julian Fletcher (2:36.22).

Chelsea Gellineau came up against some tough opposition in the Girls' age 13-14 50 metres butterfly and turned in a good showing to take bronze (30.38), behind Jamaica's Kendese Nangle in a championship record time (29.74), and silver medallist Laverne Maxwell
of Trinidad and Tobago (30:18).

On Saturday, a fast-finishing Amara Gibbs was the toast of the Bajan camp when she swam to victory in the Girls' age 11-12 200 metres butterfly in a time of two minutes, 45.09 seconds. She was simply too much for Erin (2:52.40) and Bahamian Riquel Rolle (2:57.67).

The relays also brought success for Barbados with gold coming in the Girls' age 13-14 800 metres freestyle (9:07.90) ahead of the French Antilles (9:18.96) and Jamaica (9:22.13; and bronze in the Girls' 11-12 400 metres medley relay (5:08.38), behind French Antilles (4:59.70) and Jamaica (5:03.18).

Barbados also got silver in the Girls' 13-14 400 metres freestyle relay (4:12.89). This event was won by the French Antilles (4:11.74) and Jamaica finished third (4:13.07).
(WG)