It was a weekend of record-breaking swims for the rising swim stars who took part in the XXIX Central American and Caribbean Amateur Swimming (CCCAN) Championships at the Barbados Aquatic Center. Athletes representing countries such as Barbados, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, among many others, raced one another at the bi-annual event held June 23-27th, all striving to earn Caribbean and Central American Amateur titles.
At just 12 years old, Trinidad & Tobagoan swimmer, Gabriela Donahue, did some major damage, claiming seven overall gold medals in the women’s 11-12 age group. Donahue clenched a trifecta of breaststroke titles topped off by winning the 50m breast in a time of 34.53, a new meet record. Her 100 breaststroke victory came in a best time of 1:17.31 and she earned the 200 breast gold by touching in 2:48.76. Donahue’s streak continued with a new meet record in the 50 backstroke of 30.78, as well as best times in the 200m IM (2:31.81) and 100 freestyle (1:01.64). Donahue also earned gold in the 100 butterfly, clocking a swift 1:07.42 to complete her 7 gold medal haul.
Another stand-out came in the form of Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cancel, who raced his way to a total of 6 gold medals in the men’s 15-17 age group. Cancel’s swims were highlighted by two best times – a 1:53.50 in the 200m freestyle and a 1:00.01 in the 100m backstroke. Cancel also was the IM king, clenching titles in both the 200 IM (2:08.68), and the 400 IM (4:30.47). His additional golds came in the 200m butterfly and 200m backstroke where he earned times of 2:03.83 and 2:08.18, respectively.
Also in the men’s 15-17 age group, Suriname’s Raiz Tjon-A-Joe threw down a 52.07 to take the men’s 100 free, a best time for the 17 year old. Tjon-A-Joe also wrangled in gold medal-winning performances in the 50m freestyle (23.75) and 50m breast (30.13). Also in this same age group was Panama’s Franco Reyes, who nabbed wins in the 100m butterfly in a time of 55.41 and the 50m butterfly in 25.11.
ND’s Justin Plaschka also competed at this meet.
Congratulations Miguel!