Two-time Olympic swimmer Dylan Carter attained an 'A' standard Olympic qualifying time in the men's 50 metres freestyle when the Aquatics Sports Association of T&T (ASATT) December Invitational Swimming Championships resumed at the National Aquatic Centre in Balmain, Couva, on Saturday.
The 27-year-old, who opted out of the 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly on Thursday, clocked a time of 21.69 seconds as the lone competitor in the Time Trial final to go under the 'A' standard qualification time for the Paris Olympics 2024 of 21.96 seconds.
Back in March, Carter became the first T&T athlete to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France when he splashed to gold in the men’s 100m freestyle event at the 2023 TYR Pro Swim Series in Ft Lauderdale, USA in a new national record time of 48.24 seconds, erasing his own previous record, dipping below 'A' standard of 48.34.
Apart from Carter, the quartet of Alejandro Agard, Zachary Anthony, Darren Belfon and Raekwon Noel all won two gold medals each.
The 13-year-old Agard of Marlins won the 13-14 boys' 400m individual medley in five minutes and 08.47 seconds and the 800m freestyle in 9:45.75.
Anthony, 15, also of Marlins won the 15 & Over boys' 400m IM in a Carfita 'B' qualification time of 4:59.30 and the 200m freestyle also in a Carifta 'B' time of 1:58.92.
The 14-year-old Belfon of Point Fortin Aqua Darts topped the field in the 13-14 boys' 200m freestyle in a Carifta 'B' mark of 2:02.66 and the 50m butterfly in a Carifta 'A' time of 25.69.
Seventeen-year-old Noel of Dorado of Guyana doubled up in the 15 and Over boys' 800m freestyle in a Carifta 'A' mark of 8:25.63, which bettered George Bovell III'2 2000 record of 8:40.64 and the 50m backstroke in a Carifta 'B' time of 27.31 seconds.
There was also a win each for Zachary Burke, Alessandro Bazzoni, Aaron Siewlal, Jeremiah Mahabir and Jeremy Sookram among the boys, and in the girls, one each for Zahara Anthony, Anya De Gannes, Madison Mac Millan, Amelie Baker, Zara Persico, Isabella Mayers and Kiara Goodridge. The meet continued on Saturday night and concludes Sunday with two sessions from 9 am and 5 pm, respectively.
