By Neto Baptiste
National swimmer Ellie Shaw made history on Sunday when she registered a new national record of 1:16.49 (one minute, 16.49 seconds) to become the first Antigua and Barbuda female to win gold at the Central American & Caribbean Swimming Confederation (CCCAN) Swimming Championships being held in Barbados.
Shaw, competing in the 13-15 age category, took the top podium spot in the 100 meters breaststroke event ahead of Venezuela’s Sara De Alba who clocked 1:18.31 (one minute, 18.31 seconds) and Guatemala’s Nicole Mack (1:18.80) who finished second and third respectively.
The country’s first CCCAN medal was captured by Samantha Roberts when she won bronze in the 50 butterfly in 2014 in Costa Rica while the Lleyton Martin won the first gold when he competed in the 100 meters freestyle in 2015 in Babados.
Also on Sunday, Stefano Mitchell just missed out on a podium position when he clocked 1:58.76 (one minute, 58.76 seconds) to finish fourth in the boys 18 & over 200 meters freestyle event.
Davina Barton (32:94) placed eighth in the girls 11-12 50 meters butterfly while Tivon Benjamin (26:49) and Carifta gold medallist Ethan Stubbs-Greene (26:79) were fifth and seventh respectively in the boys 13-14, 50 meters butterfly.
Stubbs-Green returned to the pool for the 200 meters freestyle later Sunday, finishing fifth in a time of 2:00.58.