By Tamica Garnett

RECORD-breaking performances by Aleka Persaud and Raekwon Noel, and an exciting battle for the men’s 100m freestyle between Deon Primus of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Silver Sharks’ Trumaine Cole were some of the top highlights of last weekend’s National Sports Commission (NSC)/Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) Independence Meet which was held at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal.Competition in the meet, which began last Friday, really got heated on Saturday, where performances of the day included Persaud and Noel clocking their record in the Girls’ and Boys’ 9-10 50m butterfly respectively.
Persaud, who won a total of six gold medals on Saturday, clocked 34.89secs in the 50m butterfly to erase her earlier record of 36s. She also won gold in the 50m breaststroke (45.50s), 100m backstroke (1:34.22s), 100m breaststroke (1:40.31s), 50m backstroke (40.13s) and 50m freestyle (32.78s).
Persaud returned on Sunday to follow up with another 3 medals coming from the 100m butterfly (1:30.38s), 200m IM (3:05.30s) and 100m freestyle (1:15.93s).
Dolphin’s Swim Club’s Patrice Mahaica, was Persaud’s biggest contender, but was still no match for the Goodwill gold medallist. Mahaica finished second behind Persaud in most of her events including the 50m breaststroke (49.19s), 100m backstroke (1:36.16s), 50m butterfly (41.04s), 100m breaststroke (1:40.31s), 200m IM (3:19.34s), 100mfreestyle (1:21.57s).
Noel, for his part championed the 50m butterfly in 33.28s to take the record. He was quite a distance ahead of Dolphin’s Paul Mahaica who scored second in a time of 39.7s. Third place went to Lajuan Munroe in a time of 40.41 seconds.
Noel won a total of six gold medals across the two-day period.
Cole dominated in the Boys’ 18 and over category all weekend, peaking with his win over Primus on Sunday, at the close of the event. Going head-to-head throughout the race, it was Cole’s experience that gave him the edge over Primus to see him win the race in 33.87s. Primus ended in a time of 35.53s, while GPF’s Kenwall Campbell was third, touching the wall in 39.27s.
Cole’s 100m freestyle win was preceded by wins in the 50m breaststroke (38.97s), 50m backstroke (33.87s), 100m backstroke (1:19.11s), 200m IM (33.87s), and 50m butterfly (30.01s).
Primus ruled in the 200m breaststroke where he clocked (3:32.25s).
Soroya Simmons’ had only the clock to challenge her in most of her races, as she swam unchallenged in most of her events. In the Girls’ 18 and under a similar situation ensued for Amy Grant in the Girls’ 13-14 category.
Soroya Simmons won the 50m breaststroke (44.38s), 1000m backstroke (1:15.34s), 200m backstroke (2:54.12s), 200m IM (2:51.58s).
Also landing several wins was Silver Sharks’ Leon Seaton in the Boys’ 11-12 category.
The event which was scheduled to end last Sunday was rescheduled to end this Friday due to a power outage at the facility.
Organisers were unable to finish the 200m freestyle and 50m freestyle from 13-14 age group. The 200m freestyle was therefore set to be completed yesterday, while the 50m freestyle events from 13-14 to 18-and-over are set for this Friday afternoon at 17:30hrs.