The Bahamas Swimming Federation has nominated 5 swimmers for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, according to Tribune242. The 5 nominees will be pending review by the British Olympic Committee, but the head of the Bahamas Swimming Federation he expects that all 5 will be sent along to Glasgow at the end of July.
The 5 nominees:
- Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace
- Ariel Weech
- Joanna Evans
- Elvis Burrows
- Dustin Tynes
The star of the show is Vanderpool-Wallace, who is based out of the United States with SwimMAC Carolina. She was a 2012 Olympic finalist, and at last week’s national championships won the 50 fly, the 100 fly, and the 50 free, her best event, in 25.40.
The Bahamas, who have never won a swimming medal at the Commonwealth Games, will have high hopes for Vanderpool-Wallace’s chances in the sprint freestyle. Her lifetime best of 24.64, from the Olympics, would have won gold at the 2010 edition of this event, though with Australian Cate Campbell defending a World Championship, the bar will certainly be raised this year.
The Bahamas didn’t send any swimmers to the 2010 Commonwealth Games. That year, in Delhi, India, the event was held in October, meaning that the country’s best candidates were all busy with school commitments.
Also on the roster is Elvis Burrows, the national record holder in the 50/100 free and 50/100 fly. Burrows has recently started training with Eric McGinnis in Orlando.
Former Nebraska Cornuhsker Ariel Weech also made the roster; she will lead the Bahamian team to the Caribbean Island Swimming Championships in Barbados in two weeks before heading off to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games.
The rest of the roster has a lot of youth. Joanna Evans and Dustin Tynes represented the Bahamas at the 2013 World Junior Championships, and after the Commonwealth Games they will head to the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China together as well.
Missing out on the team are Matthew Lowe and McKayla Lightbourn who joined Burrows and Vanderpool-Wallace at last summer’s World Championships.
Thank you! Trying to follow the Bahamas Team at the 2014 CAC GAMES in Vera Cruz, Mexico.
Stella – Loretta Race will be covering the whole meet for us, so hopefully we can get you what you want to see!