After four thrilling days of competition at the Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre, the Sea Jays Swim Club emerged as the overall winners of the 25th RHAC Invitational.
The event featured 345 swimmers from 24 clubs and eight territories, with Sea Jays narrowly outscoring Sharks Swim Club 873 to 843. Barbados’ Seaside Aquatics and Pirates Swim Club secured third and fourth place with 610 and 396 points, respectively, while Lightning Aquatics rounded out the top five with 365 points.
Sea Jays’ victory was a testament to their depth, as they had just one individual category winner – Aniyah George in the 11-12 girls’ division. George triumphed in the 50m freestyle and secured second-place finishes in the 100m, 200m, and 400m freestyle, as well as the 50m and 200m backstroke, 100m butterfly, and 200m individual medley.
Sharks Swim Club was led by Under-9 standout Keyanno Elibox, who dominated his division with wins in the 50m and 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, 50m butterfly, and 100m individual medley.
Two-time Barbadian Olympian Terrence Haynes, 40, delivered a masterclass in the 18-plus category.
The 2004 and 2008 Games veteran claimed gold in nearly every event he entered – the 50m, 100m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle, along with the 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, and 50m butterfly – settling for silver only in the 200m freestyle.
Pirates Swim Club saw strong performances from Emma-Lee Massiah and Jazz Mounter in the Under-9 girls’ division. Massiah won the 50m breaststroke, 50m butterfly, and 100m IM, while Mounter took gold in the 50m and 100m freestyle and 50m backstroke. Pirates’ Khalia Springer also shone in the 13-14 girls’ category, securing victories in the 100m, 200m, and 400m freestyle, 50m butterfly, and 400m IM.
In a statement on behalf of meet director Dr Diane Worrell, RHAC expressed gratitude to participants, staff, and volunteers. “Thank you for being part of this special milestone as we celebrated 25 years of the competition – and, of course, the Aquatic Centre itself,” the statement read. “It was a fantastic weekend, and we’re truly grateful for the energy and commitment each of you, along with your swimmers, brought to the event.”
