The Saint Lucia Aquatics Federation is sending an eight-member team to the second PanAm Aquatics Swimming Championships in Ibagué, Colombia. Over 500 swimmers from 31 countries and territories will compete from July 8 to 12 at the Hernando Arbeláez Jiménez Olympic Swimming Pools.
Saint Lucia made its debut in 2025, when Jayden Xu won a bronze medal in the 50m backstroke. Since then, the team has more than doubled in size. Last year in Medellín, Colombia, Xu competed alongside 100m backstroke finalist Noah Dorville and double finalist Naekeisha Louis.
Xu is back this year, joined by Olympian Mikaili Charlemagne and CARIFTA Aquatics champion Sapphire Parks. CARIFTA gold medallists Maya Andrew, Fayth Jeffrey, and Tyler Dantes are also on the team. Saint Lucia is expected to have two mixed relay teams.
Parks, the back-to-back high point winner in the 11-12 girls category at the CARIFTA Aquatics Championship, will compete in the 100m and 200m backstroke and butterfly, 200m breaststroke, and 200m and 400m individual medley.
Andrew will take on the 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 50m, 100m, and 200m breaststroke. Jeffrey, who is based in the US, will compete in the 50m and 100m freestyle and breaststroke. Charlemagne also has a short schedule, racing in the 50m and 100m freestyle and butterfly.
Among the boys, Xu will compete in the 40m freestyle, 50m and 100m backstroke, where he finished fourth last year, and the 200m backstroke.
Dantes has a packed schedule. He will swim in the 50m and 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly, and the 50m, 100m, and 200m backstroke.
Jase Daniel is set for four freestyle races – 50m to 400m, as well as three butterfly races, 50m to 200m. Caden Calderon will be in the 100m freestyle, 50m and 100m butterfly, breaststroke and backstroke, in addition to the 200m individual medley.
Parks, Andrew, Dantes and Daniel will also be taking on the mixed-gender 4x100m medley relay on Thursday, July 9, and the 4x100m freestyle relay on Saturday, July 11.
Brian Charles will travel as head coach, with Jonathan Calderon as assistant coach and Sariah Daniel as chaperone.
Best wishes to the team in all that they aspire to do.