The Bahamas Aquatic Federation (BAF) yesterday named the 36-member team that will represent the country this month at the CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Kingston, Jamaica.
The games take place March 31 to April 4.
Three teams were also named for the CARIFTA Water Polo Championships, which will take place at the same location two weeks before.
This year’s team will be led by CARIFTA standouts Lilly Higgs and Izaak Bastian, along with Devante Carey, Katherine Slatter and Zayle Elizabeth Thompson.
The Bahamas regained the CARIFTA swimming title last year at home, after falling to Martinique the year prior.
BAF President Algernon Cargill told Eyewitness News Sports that he is confident this year’s team will hold on to the title.
“It’s a very strong team that will be led by Lilly Higgs and Izaak Bastian. They are the two outstanding swimmers on the team,” Cargill said.
“Lilly, obviously had a great meet at CARIFTA last year and she’s heading to the University of North Carolina next year.
“In the boy’s division, Izaak Bastian is expected to shoulder a lot of the weight for us. In fact, the entire senior boy’s division is very strong. This team is comprised of all qualifiers. We are looking forward to going to Jamaica and successfully defending our title.”
CARIFTA SWIMMING TEAM
Girls 11-12: Abayomi Brown, Devin Bethel, Grace Farrington, Leylah Knowles, Keianna Moss and Mia Sastre
Girls 13-14: Ketlyn Cabral, Giovanna Eneas, Salene Gibson, Jamilah Hepburn, Delaney Mizell and Zayle-Elizabeth Thompson.
Girls 15-17: Celia Campbell, Anya MacPhail, Lilly Higgs, Victoria Russell and Virginia Stamp.
Boys 11-12: Amauri Bonaby, Nigel Forbes, Tristin Ferguson, Marvin Johnson and Hodari Prince.
Boys 13-14: Rommel Ferguson, Roman Pinder, Ishan Roy, Erald Thompson III, Lamar Taylor and Kierro Stubbs.
Boys 15-17: Izaak Bastian, DaVante Carey, Samuel Gibson, Kevon Lockhart, Peter Morley, Ian Pinder, William Russell and Luke Kennedy-Thompson.