Two-time Olympian swimmer Sharntelle Mc Lean and decorated national standout Cherelle Thompson are set to make a return to the local competitive scene when the National Open Long Course Championships (NOLC) splashes off at the National Aquatic Centre in Balmain, Couva, today from 6 pm until Sunday.
This meet is the last qualifier for team T&T for the Central American and Caribbean Amateur Swimming Confederation (CCCAN) Championships which will be held at the same venue from June 28 to July 2nd.
More than 250 swimmers in total are scheduled to face the starter over the four-day meet, which will also serve as a qualifier for the FINA World Championships in Budapest Hungary in July.
Mc Lean of Torpedoes Swim Club has registered to compete in the women’s 50 metros and 100 metros freestyle and 50m butterfly and with CCCAN being at home she saw this as an opportunity for T&T to have a full 18 and over Women contingent to contribute to relays and team points.
“I am excited by the fact that T&T should be able to field a full team of athletes in each age group” Mc Lean said.
“Getting back in to try out for CCCAN also created the opportunity to be able to compete for the first time in a regional competition in front a local crowd and once I qualify, it is an experience I am longing for.”
Mc Lean, also a coach at Torpedoes competed in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and several other high level meets, and has established several national and regional records during her career.
Thompson of Eagles Aquatics also has eyes on CCCAN and hopes once she qualifies this weekend she can help to inspire and motivate athletes on the national team. She has signed up for the 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle events. She too is excited at the prospect at competing at the National Aquatic Centre
“I am looking forward to competing because it is the first time I will get to race at this world class facility. Last year when I attended the Caribbean Islands Swimming Championship (CISC) Championships I went as a foreign based athlete, I was a bit disconnected from the team. This time I will be preparing right here at home and hope as a senior swimmer to have a positive effect on the team and look forward to reconnecting with old, and connecting with new teammates.”
Thompson has represented T&T at elite level meets including FINA World Championships, Commonwealth and Central American and Carribbean (CAC) Games.
In addition to Thompson and Mc Lean, prior regional medallists who are now in the 18 & Over category have entered for a chance to qualify for the first ever CCCAN hosted by the Amateur Swimming Association of T&T (ASATT).
They include Kristin Julien, Johnnya Ferdinand, Pierre Carmino, Kareem Baptiste, Abraham Mc Leod and Mosi Denoon.
A race to watch will be the 50m freestyle for women where Thompson, Mc Lean, Ferdinand and Julien will all line up.
Jahmia Harley who won gold at Carifta, and subsequently broke a 24-year-old short course record in the Girls 13-14 200m backstroke at the annual Invitational May Classic earlier this month, is expected to compete s well.
Many of our other successful Carifta athletes will also be competing this weekend inclusive of gold medallists Jeron Thompson, Jada Chatoor, Jada Chai, Kael Yorke and Kadon Williams. Amira Pilgrim and Alexandria Donahue are unavailable for the four days of competition due to academic commitments.
Tonight will splash off with preliminaries starting from 6 pm while the meet officially opens tomorrow at 6 pm, with finals from Thursday’s events scheduled to start from 6.30 pm. Competition on Saturday and Sunday would feature prelims at 9.15 am and finals at 5.30 pm.