BVI Barracudas return with 36 Personal Bests and 23 Top Finishes At St. Thomas Meet

The BVI Barracudas Swim Team returned with 36 personal best times and 23 top-three finishes at their first meet of the year in St. Thomas on February 17.

With 14 swimmers aged between 6 and 16, the team delivered an outstanding performance, securing an impressive total of

Among the standout achievements, three swimmers attained B times in their races, earning them a spot on the National Age Group Motivational Times Chart for their respective age groups. This marks a milestone for the team, particularly in the post-Hurricane Irma era, as four swimmers now boast B times.

Arun Bissoondutt (10 & Under Boys) clocked 40.48 in 50m Freestyle time, while Evelyn Freeman (10 & Under Girls) swam a time of 2:04.37 100m Breaststroke. Charlie Potgieter (13-14 Boys) sped to the finish with a swift 50m Freestyle time of 31.09, and Jack Morris (15-17 Boys) wasn’t far behind clocking 31.48 in the same event.

Despite facing older competitors in the 8 & Under (25m), 10 & Under, and 11 & over categories, the swimmers still secured numerous top-three finishes across the various events.

Notable first-place finishes include Naya Bissoondutt’s (8 & Under Girls) in the 25m Breaststroke with a time of 32.08 and Skylar Steer’s (8 & Under Girls) 25m Freestyle time of 21.94. William Vergel (7) clocked 32.19 25m in the Backstroke.

Second and third-place finishes went to Michael Flax (6) and Laila Flax (9) in their respective events.

Coaches Rebecca and Kyle expressed immense pride in the team’s achievements and emphasised their commitment to continued training and development. The improvement in both times and technique has been remarkable, despite training challenges such as the absence of traditional facilities.

The team’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with parents and members of the USVI Swim Federation acknowledging their improvement and potential for the future.

The BVI Barracudas Swim Team extends heartfelt thanks to the St. Thomas Swimming Association, Inc., and the Virgin Islands Swimming Federation for organising the meet and supporting their athletes. Special gratitude is also extended to sponsors such as Aquatic Rentals VI, Road Town Fast Ferry, and Skeno, the team’s taxi driver in St. Thomas, for their invaluable assistance in facilitating travel to the meet.