![Stephanie Harrison (centre), Vice President of Marketing at Mayberry Investments Limited, stands alongside Aliyah Heaven (left) from Campion College and Leanna Wainwright, winner of the 50 fly event from Montego Bay High, during the Mayberry Investments Limited All Island Swim Meet held at the National Aquatics Centre, National Stadium on Friday.](/images/joomlart/article/131d3b098f1d3155bd76f95beb5e39a6.jpg)
The Mayberry All Island Swim Meet, held on
March 15th and 16th, 2024, at the National Aquatics Centre, National Stadium, saw
the convergence of Jamaica's most promising young swimmers for two days of
thrilling competition.
Sponsored by Mayberry Investments Limited, the event
highlighted the remarkable talent and fierce determination of Jamaican swimmers
across various age categories.
From the youngest competitors in the 6 and Under division to the seasoned athletes
in the 17 and over division, the pool was alive with energy and excitement. With 28
schools and 529 athletes participating in the secondary and tertiary championship,
the atmosphere was electrifying as competitors vied for top honours. In the female
category, Immaculate Conception High School emerged victorious with an
impressive 621 points, followed by Campion College with 360 points. St. Andrew
High for Girls secured the third spot with 317 points, while Hillel Academy High and
Montego Bay High School rounded out the top five.
In the male category, Wolmers' Boys School claimed the top spot with 469 points,
narrowly edging out Campion College with 461 points. Jamaica College secured
third place with 299 points, followed by Kingston College and Cornwall College in
fourth and fifth place, respectively.
Stephanie Harrison, Vice President of Marketing at Mayberry Investments Limited,
expressed her admiration for the event, stating, "Witnessing the unfolding of
greatness filled me with immense pride on behalf of Mayberry. We are honoured to
contribute to this enduring legacy. Our commitment to the future knows no bounds,
and we eagerly anticipate our ongoing partnership to nurture and showcase these
remarkable talents. I applaud Mayberry for its foresight and unwavering dedication to
enriching all facets of our culture, particularly sports. [Also,] Gratitude extends to all
who contributed to the success of this event, from the parents representing various
schools to the dedicated organisers, for their continued exemplary efforts," Harrison
vouched.
The meet witnessed several record-breaking performances, with Zach Andre
Johnson and Nelson Denny setting new records in the 15-16 category. Leanna
Wainwright from Montego Bay High School, showcased her dominance in the
backstroke, setting a new record of 30.1 seconds in the 17 and over category.
Christanya Shirley and Aliyah Heaven delivered stellar performances in the 15-16
and 17 and over category respectively, while Kyle Radcliffe impressed in the 13-14
boys' 50 breaststroke.
High points were awarded to outstanding athletes in each age category, with notable
mentions including Kia Alert of Hillel Academy and Cameron Brown of Cardigan
Mountain in the 12 and under category, Rhianna Scott of Immaculate and Julian
Willoughby of Campion College in the 13–14 category, and Kristania Shirley of
Immaculate and Nelson Denny of Kingston Online in the 15–16 category, all of
whom have represented Jamaica at an international level.
Within the preparatory and primary school cohorts, a total of 40 schools participated,
bringing together 555 promising young athletes. Notable standouts included Zuri
Robertson from Emanuel Christian Academy and Eugene Kim from Hillel Prep. In
the 7-8 age category for the female division, Zahra Howe Baxter of St. Andrew Prep
School and in the male category, Sergio Dalrymple from Hosana Prep caught
attention. In the 9–10 age group, Kai Lawson from St. Hugh's Preparatory School
and Caleb Williams from Vaz Preparatory School showcased their skills, while
Addison Thomas and Joel Sinclair from Mona Preparatory School exhibited
exceptional talent in the 11–12 age group.
Moving on to the prep school division, St. Hugh's Proprietary School clinched victory
in the female category by a mere one-point margin, tallying 192 points and edging
out Hillel Prep, which earned 191 points. Mona Preparatory School followed closely
behind with 162 points, while Creative Kids Learning Academy secured 128 points.
Emanuel Academy rounded out the top five with a commendable 86 points. Hillel
Prep took charge in the male category, securing first place with an impressive 243
points, followed by St. Peter and Paul Prep, Mona Prep, Stella Morris, and Hopefield
Prep School. Excelsior Primary School emerged as the overall champion in the
primary division.
Joseph Reynolds, Meet Director and Head of the School Swimming Committee for
the Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica, expressed, "Overall, the event boasted a
significant turnout, with enthusiastic cheers reverberating throughout the venue. It's
worth noting that Immaculate and Mona Preparatory School claimed the Spirit
Trophy, a testament to the passionate support from their respective communities.
This meet continues to establish itself as a cornerstone of Jamaican swimming, and
we deeply appreciate the unwavering support from all participating schools.
Additionally, we extend our gratitude to Mayberry and Company for their
sponsorship, which contributed to the success of this memorable event. We eagerly
anticipate their continued support in future editions, and we extend our heartfelt
thanks to Mayberry for their commitment to our swimming community," he asserted.
Much like how this tournament uncovered the talents of Jamaican five-time Olympian
Alia Atkinson, the Mayberry All Island Swim Meet has once again demonstrated its
remarkable success, solidifying its position as a premier event in Jamaica's
swimming landscape. Among the standout emerging talents showcased at the meet
is Kai Lawson from St. Hugh's Preparatory School, the sole prep student to secure
qualification for Carifta. Presently, Lawson is actively seeking additional support to
turn this dream into a tangible achievement.
As the young athletes return to their respective schools, they carry with them
memories of exhilarating competition and the promise of a bright future in Jamaican
swimming.