COLE BAY--Learning Unlimited won the 16th annual Caribbean Gems Primary Schools Swim Meet on Sunday making them champions for the third year in a row.
This year the meet hosted by Carib Swim Team was attended by eight schools: Caribbean International Academy (CIA), Learning Unlimited (LU), Methodist Agogic Centre (MAC), St Dominic’s, St Maarten Montessori School, Sister Magda, Sister Regina, St Joseph and Hillside Christian School. Teams were up to 16 swimmers, and LU, Sister Regina and MAC each entered two teams which was allowed under the meet rules. In total over 150 students from grades 1-6 represented their schools swimming in 20 events. All four competitive strokes were swum during the meet, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle over distances of 25, 50 and 100 metres. Each swimmer could swim 2 individual races and one relay race.
LU won the meet with 842 points. Sister Magda School placed second with 730 points. St Dominic Primary School came in third with 643 points.
Special mention goes to the following swimmers who were the highest point scorers for their age groups. Girls 7 and under: India Hurley, Learning Unlimited; Boys 7 and under: Maxime Gibbs, Learning Unlimited; Girls 8-9: C’Mara Atland, MAC; Adaya Bourne, Sister Magda; Boys 8-9: Nihal Chugani, St Dominic Primary School; Thomas ten Broecke, Learning Unlimited;Girls 10 and over: Abbi Illis, Hillside Christian; Dhrishti Shahani, St Dominic Primary School; Arianna Lont, Learning Unlimited and Boys 10 and over: Sacha Gibbs, Learning Unlimited.
"It is important to give our youth the opportunity to shine and show off their talents in a crowd that shows tremendous cheering and support. When the schools come together in a friendly competition, there is a sense of positivity throughout the event. This kind of character-building really lasts as they grow into young adults who believe in themselves. We consider each swimmer a winner, simply for showing up & participating," Manu Budhrani explains.
