PHILIPSBURG – Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Silveria Jacobs along with the Department of Sports congratulated the team who recently returned from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and participated in the 26th OECS Swimming Championship.
The team, which consisted of athletes from the St. Martin Natacion and the St. Maarten Aquatics Federation returned on Monday, November 14, to a great welcome from parents, supporters and representative of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports and Department Head of Sports Jonelle Richards.
Representing the St. Maarten Aquatics Federation was Adaya Bourne (Sharks), Daine Liverpool (Sharks), Sacha Tobias (Sharks), Rashad Peterson (Carib), Emma Marshall (Carib), Mickah Sinke (Carib) and Tatiana Illis.
At the meet, Adaya Bourne earned a silver medal in the 8 and under 25m breaststroke. Emma Marshall, Mickah Sinke and Tatiana Illis all earned first places in their open water 5k races. Sacha Tobias and Rashad Peterson also earned 3rd place finishes in their open water races.
Representing the St. Martin Natacion was Mathais Piazza, Naima Dessout, Maxime Gibbas, Sacha Gibbas and Miles Cheasley. At the meet, Mathais Piazza earned a bronze medal in the 8 and under 25m backstroke. Naima Dessout also received a silver and bronze medal in the 13/14 age 50m and 100m freestyle, respectively. The French team also earned a bronze medal in the 8 and under 200m medley.
The coaches who trained the athletes and also accompanied them to the championship were Nicole Maccow, Megan Pittman and Elena Broere. According to a representative of the Aquatics Federation, the athletes also had the support of some of the parents, family members and friends, which was very good for the athletes. They also stated that they were very proud of all of the athletes, as the majority of the swimmers were able to improve on their best times at the competition.
The competition also saw in attendance athletes from Antigua & Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Martinique, St. Lucia and St. Vincent with the competition being organized by the St. Vincent & Grenadines Swimming Federation.
Minister Jacobs congratulated the athletes on all of their achievements and also the coaches who worked hard to ensure the development of the athletes.
