Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago are locked in a keen battle for the overall team title at the 17th annual Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships (CISC), currently on at the National Stadium.

Jamaica, who are in search of their first title, were in second place up to press time last night with 357 points, 58 points less that than the Trinidadians, and 65 points more than defending champions Puerto Rico, who have all but relinquished their title.

Surprised

"I am surprised we are in second," said a elated John Eyre, president of the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ), following the completion of the Water Polo and Synchronised Swimming competitions yesterday. "Heading into the tournament, we knew we had a good team, but were not expecting to be ahead of the defending champions.

"But I guess with home team advantage, and some of our swimmers rising to the occasion we have given ourselves a chance, albeit at this stage it is still Trinidad and Tobago's championships to lose," he added.

Jamaica's relatively strong position is a result of some fine individual swimming from Ramon James, Timothy Wynter, Danielle Boothe and Brittany Kenny, who along with the synchronised team, made a big splash on Sunday.

In the boys' section, James, competing in the 18 and Over 50 metres backstroke, captured silver ahead of Trinidad and Tobago's Jarryd Gregoire, and overall winner David Rodriquez of Cuba, while Boothe competing in the 11-12 50m backstroke finished third behind the Trinidad pair of Keegon Boisson and Joshua Romany, who finished first and second respectively.

Female section

In the female section, Kenny, competing in the 13-14 800m, won bronze behind Barbados' Lani Cabrera, and Puerto Rico's Gabriela McGill, who won gold and silver, while Boothe, competing in the 11-12 100m butterfly won bronze.

Jamaica also won relay titles in the boys' and girls' 15-17 800m freestyle relay, winning silver and bronze respectively, while in water polo, the girls' 15 and under team defeated Puerto Rico 3-0 to capture the gold. Jamaica also took home bronze in the boys' 17 and under water polo event.

Competition gets under way today at 9:00 a.m.