Key Turns In First CARIFTA Qualifying Time / Relays Dominate

Stingray put on a fireworks show to finish the 3rd session of the Christmas Open today, with both the boys and girls A relays dominating the competition in the 4x100 Medley Relay. The girls relay of Ella Plunkett, Sarah Jackson, Stefanie Boothe and Samantha Bailey led from start to finish, cruising to a victory of more than 10 meters. Ashley Theaker hunted down swimmers in her final leg for the Stingray B team to help her crew of Catriona Macrae, Katie Klein and Alison Jackson take 4th overall.

The boys stepped up and swam out of their skin to take first by an even larger margin, more than 15 meters. Cole Morgan led the group and pb'd in his opening shift, grabbing another CARIFTA qualifying time in the 100 back. Alex Dakers bettered his time of 1:27 earlier in the day, splitting 1:25.0 and passed the baton to Iain McCallum who did the same, clocking a 1:03.6. Not to be outdone, Jonathan Key charged home in a split of 59.8. Because the relays were deck entered, they did not score official points... but we swam for Stingray pride anyway, and the kids delivered!

In the individuals, Big Iain roared to a gold medal finish in the 400 IM with Cole Morgan following close behind for another 1-2 finish by the pair. Andrew Smilley came in shortly after to nab 5th overall. Then, in perhaps the most difficult race of the evening, Sarah Jackson sprinted to a meet record time of 38.31 in the 50 Breaststroke, giving her what would have been a CARIFTA qualifying time, but was disqualified for swimming in the wrong lane. Though the mistake was not her fault, the disqualification was challenged but not rewarded. As such, teammate Ella Plunkett took first place in the event. Alongside her, Alison Jackson swam to a PB and a second CARIFTA time of the day.

Iain Macrae added to his schedule of events for CARIFTA, becoming the first and only 11-12 boy from Cayman to qualify in the 50 breaststroke. Iain will attempt to triple up tomorrow in the 50 backstroke. John Bodden and Alex Dakers swam impressive 100 butterfly's, Alex dropping 3 seconds and finishing at 1:16, and John dropping 12 seconds to finish at 1:19.

Samantha Bailey found gold again in the 200 freestyle, smashing the previous meet record by over four seconds, with Ella Plunkett coming in close behind her for 3rd place. John Bodden came alive again for an 11 second drop in the 200 freestyle, making it a perfect 5 for 5 thus far, all of which have bested his short course times. Hayley Roulstone also kept her perfect streak alive, dropping over 10 seconds in the 200 free and 6 seconds in the 100 fly.

The spoils of the night though, once again, go to Jonathan Key who finally found success in capturing his first CARIFTA time in the 200 freestyle and finishing 3rd place overall! Congrats Jonathan!

One more session in the morning then it's back to the little rock!