by SHERRYLYN A. TOPPIN

TWO SWIMMERS from Queen's College were the most outstanding when the curtain came down on the 2009 Powerade Barbados Secondary Schools' Swimming Championships on Wednesday at the Aquatic Centre.

Justin Babb and Lee-Ann Rose gained the most points overall, totally dominating their respective age groups.

It was the third consecutive year Babb has gained the maximum 54 points in the 15 and Over division. Swimming unbeaten, he also improved his times over last year in two of the six individual events. Unfortunately, records aren't kept, so WEEKENDSPORT can't indicate if any were set.

Babb posted 55.70 seconds in the 100-metre freestyle down from 56.04 last year, beating the Harrison College duo of Warren Kellman (57.84), who was in that division for the first time, and Shomari Powell (58.58), who twice denied Babb a division sweep by winning both the medley and freestyle relays.

In the 50-metre butterfly, he was just marginally faster in 27.29 seconds, down from 27.80, with Kellman again second (28.73) and Shai Stewart of Harrison College third in 29.29.

Babb also won the 100-metre individual medley in 1 minute 05.37 seconds; the 50-metre backstroke in 29.96, a full second slower and the 50-metre breaststroke in 34.76 seconds.

Rose has grown by leaps and bounds over last year where she only placed in the 13 to 14 girls' 50-metre and 100-metre free. She won every event except the 50-metre breast where she was third, and swam some fantastic relay legs to earn 51 points.

In the 100 free, she lowered her time from 1:04.91 to 1:01.31 and the 50 free from 29.85 to 29.09. There were also victories in the individual medley in 1:13.54, the fly (31.57) and 50 back (33.17), all of which were faster than the times recorded by Lani Cabrera last year.

Another Queen's College student, Christian Selby, narrowly missed the most outstanding title with 52 points. In his first year at this level, most races ended with Selby first and Jonathan Manning (also in his first year) of The St Michael School in second place. He has another year to improve his times in this division, with only the 100-metre individual medley (1:11:11) faster than the 1:12.01 by Tristan Ward last year.

Deandre Small of Harrison College earned 50 points this year in the girls' 12 and Under age group. She improved her times over last year in all of the races. The 100-metre individual medley from 1:13.64 to 1:09.42; the 50 back from 33.73 to 32.03; the 50 breast from 38.27 to 35.91 beating last year's winner Zabrina Holder. In the 50 free, her time also fell from 29.73 to 28.19. Even those two races which she lost to Holder, the 50 fly and 100 free, she also lowered her time.

Cabrera of Harrison College moved up to the 15 and over division with success. After being disqualified in the 100-metre free for a false start, she settled down and had a very good meet.

The other division champion was Darren Beckles of The St Michael School, who had wins in the 13 to 14 boys' 100-metres free in 56.32, 50-metres free in 26.50 and the backstroke in 32.72 seconds.

This year's atmosphere was also much improved over last year. The Queen's College band entertained spectators with some of this year's most popular calypsos and the old Sunday School favourite, Father Abraham.