Over the last two weeks, Harbour swimmers have seen great success at both the Validus National Championships held this past weekend at the National Aquatics Center as well as the Schroder’s Long Course Age Group Championships held May 3rd – 7th.
Harbour coaches are excited about the pipeline of talented swimmers in the Club. The depth of swimmers in the program is a strong indication of what is in store for Bermuda’s swimming future.
At the conclusion of the Validus National Championships, Harbour saw a clean sweep in the Girls 12 and Under High Point awards. Giada Dudley-Pun was the National Champion in the Girls 12 and Under category, followed by Josephine Duerden who placed second and Myeisha Sharrieff third.
Brandon Adkins captured the high point trophy for the highest ranked Individual swim in the Boys 12 and Under category. Dudley-Pun also produced the highest ranked Girl’s 12 and Under Girl’s Individual swim.
The meet saw a number of highlights including Pippa Charleson and Brandon Adkins, who achieved qualification standards for CARIFTA 2019, while many other Harbour swimmers achieved a number of personal bests.
Dudley-Pun broke the Girls 11-12 National Record in the 200 Breaststroke in a time of 2:58.21, breaking her own record of 2:59.98 set earlier this year while representing Bermuda at CARIFTA 2018.
Just two weeks before at the Schroders LC Age Group Championships, Harbour swimmers also saw tremendous success across all Age Groups.
Josephine Duerden was the 11-12 Age Group High Point winner, swimming a number of personal bests that brought her to the title, while Arabella Newport-Derbyshire set three new National Age Group records, smashing the Girls 400M Freestyle National Age Group record in a time of 6:47.86, establishing a new National Age Group record in the Girls 8 and Under 200 Backstroke in a time of 3:27.48 and broke her own record in the Girls 100 Backstroke in a time of 1:38.65.
Violet Smith broke the Girls 8 and Under National Age Group Record in the 50 Backstroke in a time 43.98.
The Harbour 10 and Under Mixed 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay Team consisting of Flora Betts, Nathan Burrill, Brooke Castree and Thomas Cechini established a new National Age Group LC Record, while the 10 and Under Mixed 4 x 100 Medley Relay Team consisting of Violet Smith, Thomas Cechini, Brooke Castree and Nathan Burrill established a new National Age Group Record.
In the 11 - 12 Mixed 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay, Harbour swimmers Jared Moore, Josephine Duerden, Charleson and Brandon Adkins broke the National Age Group Record and the same group did it again in the 4 x 100 Medley Relay.
Harbour Head Coach, Shona Palmer added, “The swimmers commitment to the program has been highlighted over the last two Championship meets where swimmers have enjoyed many personal bests, set new A, AA and AAA standards as well as new National Age Group Records.”
As success continues to hit new heights at Harbour, September of 2019 brings the introduction of the new Harbour Gold Squad, which has been designed to push Harbour swimmers across all age groups to reach their maximum potential. Qualifying times must be met in order to receive an invitation to the Gold Squad, which has presented tremendous excitement and forward-focus amongst the swimmers.
The program will kick off in the summer months with pre-season training and will consist of quality training in the pool, strength and conditioning, nutrition education and mental preparedness training. The program will also bring swimmers a combination of overseas training camps and competitions in the Fall of this year and early next. One of the differentiators of this program relative to others on-island is the depth of coaching staff to implement and sustain this type of program.
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