National swimming standout Nikoli Blackman continued his rich vein of form when he topped the Aquatics Sports Association of T&T (ASATT) 10K Time Trial at Las Cuevas Beach, North Coast, Maracas on Sunday morning.
The event was held as a trial for selection to the national team for the upcoming Central American and Caribbean Amateur Swimming Confederation (CCCAN) Swimming and Open Water Championship from July 10-18 in Christ Church, Barbados.
The 16-year-old Blackman, a student of Fatima College who copped the Carifta Swimming Championship 15-17 Boys’ High Point Age-Group award and the FINA High Point Award after winning 14 medals (seven gold, four silver and three bronze) in Barbados last month completed the 10K course in two hours and 29:46.5o minutes to finish ahead of fellow national swimmer Zachary Anthony who clocked 2:32:49.7 while Isaac Tuboroso was third in 2:34:15.5 among the six swimmers to finish the event.
The other finishers were Shania David (2:45:46.5), William Carr (2:49:11.2) and Trent Bethel (2:53:29.6) while Donovan Garib did not finish.
Last month, Blackman earned selection to the 32-member national team for next month's third edition of the Pan American Age-Group Championships to be hosted by ASATT from June 2-5 at the National Aquatic Centre in Balmain, Couva.
The four-day meet is expected to feature more than 400 Under-18 competitors from more than 40 countries.
This after Blackman along with Olympians Cherelle Thompson, and Dylan Carter, the latter a World Championship and Commonwealth Games medallist as well achieved “A” standard qualifying times when the three-day ASATT Pan American Aquatics Age-Group Trials concluded at Couva.