The Saint Lucia Aquatics Federation hosted the 2025 Independence Swim Meet at the Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre on the weekend, with well over a hundred swimmers from six clubs turning out in friendly rivalry. When the waves had settled, after 106 events, Sharks Swim Club amassed 1431 points to emerge as winners. Sea Jays totalled 1001, with Lightning Aquatics (574), RR Aquatic (439), Southern Flying Fish (304), and Rodney Heights Aquatics Club (202) also participating.
Sharks got a big push from their women and girls, who dominated the competition with 736 points, 448 points clear of Southern Flying Fish (288) in second. Sea Jays got 269, Lightning Aquatics 150, Rodney Heights Aquatics 146, and RR Aquatic 129. Among the men and boys, Sea Jays led with 650. But Sharks were hot on their heels with 571, Lightning Aquatics had 370, RR Aquatic 282, Rodney Heights Aquatics 22, and Southern Flying Fish 16.
Among the stars for Sharks were Emma Fortune and Chloe Emanus in the 9-10 age cohort. Fortune won the 200m individual medley (4:01.19), 100m backstroke (1:48.25), and 50m butterfly (44.10), with Emanus second in the backstroke. But Emanus won the 100m freestyle (1:26.65), 50m freestyle (36.59), and 50m backstroke (45.59), with Fortune second in all.
Also in the 9-10 girls, Thandie Anoine won the 400m freestyle, Leamandia Brown of RR Aquatic won the 100m IM and 50m breaststroke.
Whereas Kayla-Marise Inglis did not win her division, she got two gold medals and three silver, behind Amara Reece of Lightning Aquatics. Inglis won the 13-14 200m individual medley (2:58.43) and 100m butterfly (1:32.67). Reece took the 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 100m backstroke, and 50m backstroke with Inglis in second each time. Reece then added the 100m freestyle, 100m IM, 50m and 100m breaststroke, where Inglis failed to medal.
Among the Sharks boys, Keyanno Elibox took gold in the Under-9 25m (16.60), 50m (36.86), and 400m freestyle (6:56.53), 25m (19.66) and 50m butterfly (44.58), 50m backstroke (46.59), 50m breaststroke (53.58), and 200m IM (3:36.24). His older brother, Khairi, was a double silver medallist in the 11-12 division, where Sharks Dylan Corcoran won the 100m breaststroke, 100m butterfly, and 400m freestyle, Tyler Dantes the 50m backstroke, 200m IM, and 100m backstroke.
Meanwhile, Daniel DuBoulay captured the boys 9-10 400m freestyle for Sharks Swim Club, Tyler Frerderick the boys 9-10 200m IM, Noah Clauzel the boys 15-17 100m backstroke, and Meyah John the girls 13-14 400m freestyle.
From Sea Jays, Sapphire Parks continued to impress. The top athlete in the girls 11-12 category, she won the 50m (34.37) and 100m backstroke (1:16.17), 50m (32.32) and 100m butterfly (1:13.13), 200m IM (2:39.06), and 400m freestyle (5:06.97), Teammate Aniyah George had four silver medals in that category as well.
The Lighting Aquatics duo of Karic Charles and Ethan Hazell dominated the 15-17 boys. Charles got four gold medals, winning the 50m (25.22) and 100m freestyle (56.22), 100m butterfly (1:01.55), and 100m IM (1:04.57). Hazell got silver medals in three of those events, along with gold in the 50m breaststroke (32.39) and 50m butterfly (27.07), with Charles taking second in both of those races as well.
Kayla-Rose Richard of Rodney Heights Aquatics bloomed in the Under-9 girls’ races. She won the 25m (20.23) and 50m freestyle (47.85), 25m backstroke (26.32), 25m (22.02) and 50m butterfly (50.27), and 100m IM (2:01.11). Hillarie Edward of Southern Flying Fish won the 25m and 50m breaststroke.
Andrew Charlemagne was a triple gold medallist in the Under-9 boys, winning the 25m breaststroke, 25m backstroke, and 100m IM.
Fayth Lubrun got six gold medals in the 15-17 girls for Lightning Aquatics. She won the 50m (28.88) and 100m freestyle (1:02.93), 50m (30.69) and 100m butterfly (1:11.35), 50m backstroke (32.60), and 100m IM (1:16.73). Kaitlyn Holder of Southern Flying Fish took multiple silver medals, whilst she topped the podium in the 400m freestyle, 100m backstroke, and 200m IM.
There were five gold medals for Noah Dorville of Sea Jays in the 13-14 boys. He won the 50m (34.69) and 100m breaststroke (1:20.17), 100m butterfly (1:05.50), 100m (58.12) and 400m freestyle (4:47.04). Aaron Charles of Lighting Aquatics took the other two events in that division, the 50m butterfly and 100 IM.
The Andrew siblings, Miles and Maya, excelled in the 9-10 boys and 11-12 girls, respectively. Miles got gold in 50m (30.93) and 100m freestyle (1:18.36), 50m butterfly (37.98), 50m backstroke (38.77), 50m breaststroke (45.71), and 100m IM (1:28.56). Maya won the 50m (40.34) and 100m breaststroke (1:32.86), and 100m IM (1:24.60). Aniyah George won the 50m and 100m freestyle events in that class.
Other multiple medallists included Shaquil Flavius and Nathan Lewis for Sea Jays. Flavius won the 50m butterfly, 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle, and 100m IM in the boys 18 & over division, and Lewis the 50m breaststroke, 50m and 100m freestyle.
The relays followed a certain pattern in terms of age group . Sharks girls unsurprising won the Under-11 200m medley relay, with Fortune, Emanus, Antoine, and Amber Francois, beating Southern Flying Fish. Sea Jays took the boys relay in that age group. Sharks won the girls 11-14 200m medley relay, with Inglis joined by Zaina Brathwaite, Leila DuBoulay, and Jaimie Devaux. Their B team took second place. Again, Sea Jays boys were victorious. In the boys 15 & Over 200m medley, Lightning Aquatics won over Sea Jays.
Sharks beat RR Aquatic by more than 30 seconds to capture the mixed Under-11 200m freestyle relay. The 11-14 version went to Sea Jays, winning by nearly 10 seconds over Sharks. In the 15 & Over class, Lightning Aquatics beat Sea Jays by 10 seconds.
Sharks again won the mixed IUnder-11 200m medley relay, with Emanus, Elibox, Frederick, and Fortune combining to touch well ahead of RR Aquatic in second. Sea Jays won the 11-14 race, and Lightning Aquatics the 15 & Over.
The Under-11 girls 200m freestyle relay was taken by Sharks, with Sea Jays topping the boys. Sharks girls won the 11-14 200m freestyle relay, and Sea Jays the boys’ event. Lightning Aquatics’ 15 & Over boys were also triumphant.
