Kendese Nangle sinks backstroke record

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

JAMAICA'S KENDESE Nangle set a new national age grouprecord when she finished runner-up with a time of 2:36.00 in the 200m backstroke at the 25th bi-annual Central American and Caribbean Swimming Championships (CCCAN) in El Salvador on Tuesday.

Nangle, competing in the girls' 11-12 category, was just edged into second place by Puerto Rico's Amanda Toledo, who finished with a time of 2:35.99.

Nangle boosted her overall medal tally to three as she won gold on the opening day in the 50m backstroke with a championship record time of 32.08 and a silver in the 50m butterfly.

Her time of 30.84 in the latter event saw her finish behind Trinidad and Tobago's Kimberlee Williams, who swam to gold in 30.31.

Personal best

In the girls' 15-17 age group, Jamaica's Natasha Moodie swam a personal best of 29.70, but that was only good enough for a fourth as she finished behind Ivette Murillo, Pamela Benitez and champion Debra Rodriguez, who came in first with a time of 29.05.

Up to press time yesterday, the Jamaicans were hoping to increase their medal tally as they had qualified for seven finals in yesterday's morning session.

Moodie qualified for the girls' 15-17 100m freestyle final with the fastest time of 59.92.

She also clocked the third best time in the 15-17 50m breaststroke with 35.15.

In other events, Xavier Boland finished fifth in the boys' 11-12 50m breaststroke, Brian Forte was fifth in the 13-14 100m freestyle while Brad Hamilton qualified for the 15-17 100m freestyle and the 15-17 boys' 50m breaststroke with the eighth and fifth best times respectively.

Nangle has claimed all of the island's medals to date.