Stella Maris top swim champs

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Stella Maris Preparatory School emerged winners of the 13th staging of the Nestlé Ice-Cream Prep/Primary School Swimming Championship which was held at the National Stadium Pool between June 11 and 12.

The battle for the top place was very closely contested with a recalculation of the results having to be done following some technical (electronic) problems. The final results placed Stella Maris on top with 429 points followed by Hillel Preparatory on 401.

The Shortwood Road-based Stella Maris school also emerged as the top girls' school, while Hillel were crowned the top boys' school. Naggo Head collected the Spirit Trophy for primary schools. Brittney Campbell of Stella Maris won five gold medals to be named the most outstanding female swimmer, while Hillel Preparatory School's Yonatan Goren's four gold medals earned him the most outstanding boys' crown.

The championship, which is the biggest school championship meet on the swimming calendar, attracted 26 teams with approximately 647 swimmers from preparatory and primary schools across the island.

Achievements

Title sponsors Nestlé provided the event with both cash and kind to the value of approximately $750,000. Karen Willis-Mussington, consumer marketing manager of Nestlé Ice-Cream, reiterated how proud she is of the achievements of the swimmers over the years, pointing out that this event has been a foundation and platform for many Jamaican young swimmers who have (and will) moved their talents and skills to a higher level in the sport of swimming in Jamaica and internationally.

President of the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica, John Eyre, stated that the 2010 championship was another highly competitive event and congratulated all the winners and the schools for their effort and participation in the 13th staging of another safe and successful event.

The meet also marked the first school meet performed in the 50-metre swimming pool at the National Stadium over the last two years since the government's $5 million renovation of the pool.