USA-based swimmers Dylan Carter and Tyla Martin will lead the Trinidad and Tobago charge when the team travels to Jamaica for the Carifta Swimming Championships from March 29-April 4.
The swimming committee of the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT) first selected before the council ratified a 34 -member team that including World Juniors qualifier Kristin Julien, whose selection depends on the provision of a medical certificate giving her clearance for a shoulder injury.
Carter, who recently swam to personal in-season best at the Orlando Grand Prix last month, is expected to be one of T&T's main medal winners at the Jamaican Games as is Martin who swim at Pine Crest.
Carter, who moved to Davie Nadadores in Florida last August, was also a National Age Group (NAG) 15-16 record-breaker last year when he splashed to gold in the 200 yard freestyle at the Speedo Junior Winter Nationals last November.
Carter and Martin, both World Junior qualifiers will be campaigning in the Boys and Girls 15-17 age group respectively.
Fellow world junior qualifier Joshua Romany is also expected to contribute to the this country's medal count and points standing when he campaigns with Carter in that age-group. Along with Jabari Baptiste, who moves up into the age-group for the first time, the foursome combine for formidable 4 x 100 medley relay team that will be difficult to beat.
Boys 15-17 breast-stroker Jonathan Ramkissoon of Titans is expected to be a serious gold medal threat in the 50 and 100m breast, while the USA-based Alexandria Donahue and the UK-based Rebecca Marshall should lend medal-winning power in the Girls 15-17.
Among the 11-12s, Jeron Thompson of Silver Sharks and Kael Yorke of Tidal Wave Aquatics (TWA) carry the main medal and point hopes along with Titans Kyle Sirju while among the Girls, Atlantis Aquatics' Jada Chai and Vrisnelit Faure should be gaining some medals. Among the 13-14s, Amira Pilgrim of Titans is the protagonist among the girls.
The Open Water team, which will number 12 will be selected after Sunday's Gasparee Island Swim.
Veteran Edmund Pouchet, head coach of Stingray, was selected as head coach. The other coaches are the experienced Tidal Wave Aquatics head coach and manageress Hazel Haynes, while also chosen were former national swimmer and Tsunami head coach Vincent Tardieu, Sea Hawks head coach Brian Wickham (both of whose clubs make up Titans) and Torpedoes Swim Club coach and Olympian Sharntelle Mc Lean.
The full swim team: Girls 11-12 -Jada Chai, Jessie Changar, Hannah Chatfield, Vrisnelit Faure, Mia Otero, Marissa Packette 13-14- Ariel Cape, Jewel Mulrain, Amira Pilgrim 15-17- Syriah David, Alexandria Donahue, Theana Hay, *Kristin Julien, Rebecca Marshall, Tyla Martin *pending medical clearance Boys 11-12- Kael Yorke, Jeron Thompson, Kyle Sirju, Rhajeev Ramdeen, Mark-Anthony Beckles 13-14- Aaron Acres, Adrian Goin, Derelle Prescott, Revash Ramtahal, Osaze Riley, Justin Samlasingh 15-17- Jabari Baptiste, Dylan Carter, Jonathan Gillette, David Mc Leod, Jeron O'Brien, Jonathan Ramkissoon, Joshua Romany, Emiro Goossen
Source: www.trinidadexpress.com