Nikoli Blackman and Anpherne Bernard had record-breaking performances as action in the Amateur Swimming Association of T&T’s (ASATT) Invitational meet continued at the National Aquatic Centre in Balmain, Couva, on Friday evening.
Blackman, who swims for host club Marlins Swim Club, broke the Boys’ 13-14 800 metres freestyle record in a time of eight minutes and 46.83 seconds. The previous record was 8:55.55 achieved in 2015.
Earlier, Bernard, of Tidal Wave Aquatics (TWA), broke the Boys’ 9-10 50m breaststroke record of 37.69. The 10-year-old previously held the record which was 37.70 (2019).
The duo joins fellow record-holders of the four-day swim meet, Christiano Rivas (Red White and Black (RWB) Academy), Asia-Marie Pouchet (Blue Dolphins), TWA’s Amelia Rajack and Jamaican Zaneta Alvaranga (Kaizen).
Rivas and Pouchet each broke a 27-year-old record the opening day of the meet.
On Thursday, Rivas touched the wall in 30.41 in the Boys’ 9-10 50-metres butterfly to improve on Matthew Houllier’s 30.53 in 1992. The day before, Pouchet’s 36.93 in the girls’ eight and under 50m backstroke, lowering the previous time of 37.20 set by Chantal Ross, also in 1992.
Rajack, 12, broke her own record in the Girls’ 11-12 1,500m freestyle with a 19:11.56-clocking. The TWA swimmer’s previous record was 20:39.92.