Atkinson continues golden form

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, CANA JAMAICAN Janelle Atkinson (1:06.68) added to her golden tally on the fifth day of the Central American and Caribbean (CCCAN) Swimming championship on Saturday by winning in the girls 18 and over 100 metres backstroke, in which Jamaican Angela Chuck (1:11.27) was sixth.

Also in gold-winning form for the English-speaking Caribbean were the Bovell brothers from Trinidad and Tobago. Georrge and Nicholas Bovell shared three gold medals between them.

George Bovell, competing in the 15-17 age group, won the 400 metres individual medley in four minutes 36.02, beating Mexico's Christian Tinajero (4:37.77), and he also captured the 50 metres freestyle in 23.97 seconds, with teammate Ryan Yearwood (24.04) taking silver, and Barbadian Cliff Gittens (24.26) the bronze.

Nicholas, back from injury, posted an outstanding CCCAN record in the 13-14 200 IM.

After missing several events Thursday and Friday because of a shoulder injury, Nicholas remarkably chopped more than four seconds off the previous record with a 2:09.83 win in the 200 IM.

Leopoldo Andara of Mexico, was a distant second in 2:15.20.

There were three other medals - all to Jamaicans - on the penultimate night of competition.

Atkinson collected a silver in the 200 metres butterfly in 2:18.78 seconds behind Mexican Paola Espinosa (2:18.01), while bronze medals went to Ramon James in the 18 and over 100 metres backstroke, and Dominic Lee in the 13-15 200 metres breaststroke.

Cuban 1996 Olympic medallist Neisser Bent won 100 backstroke in a CCCAN record 57.56 over Mexican Victor Bayata (59.61), with James third in 1:00.19.

Lee posted a new Jamaica age group record 23.55 seconds, chasing gold Venezuelan gold medallist Leopoldo Andara (2:30.31), and Alfonso Espinosa (2:32.89) of the Dominican Republic in the 200 breaststroke.

Trinidad and Tobago, the CARIFTA champions, remain the top performing English Caribbean team, now with 11 gold, six silver and two bronze, followed by Jamaica (7-2-6), and Barbados (4-1-2).

The meet ended last night.

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