Golden Night in Martinique as Girls Claim Medley Glory
IslandStats.com
Bermuda’s swimming contingent reached the summit of the podium on a scintillating second night of finals at the XXXIX Carifta Aquatics Championships, with the senior girls' relay team delivering a golden masterclass in Martinique.
The atmosphere at the Pierre Samot Community Aquatic Centre reached fever pitch as the 15-17 Girls 400m Medley Relay team took to the blocks. In a race defined by clinical transitions and relentless pace, the quartet of Violet Smith, Teagan Mewett, Marleigh Howes, and Katherine Wheddon produced a flawless performance. Stopping the clock in 4:33.17, the Bermudian stars surged ahead of their regional rivals to secure a magnificent gold medal, marking the island's first top-step finish of the 2026 championships.
While the relay provided the golden highlight, Bermuda’s individual finalists found themselves agonizingly close to the podium in several high-caliber races. In the 13-14 Boys 200m Freestyle, Dominic Wright battled hard to secure a fourth-place finish in 2:02.42, a result mirrored by Katherine Wheddon in the 15-17 Girls equivalent as she clocked 2:12.17.
The backstroke events proved equally competitive for the Gombey Warriors. In the 13-14 Boys 100m final, Rory Shepherd led the charge with a strong fourth-place finish in 1:04.52, narrowly ahead of teammate Dominic Wright who touched the wall in fifth. Connor Hupman produced a standout individual display in the 15-17 Boys 100m Backstroke, dipping under the minute mark with a 59.29 to claim fourth, while Violet Smith secured sixth in the 15-17 Girls final.
The grueling 400m Individual Medley tested the endurance of the senior squad, where Teagan Mewett backed up her relay heroics with a fifth-place finish in 5:26.41. Gaby Cechini followed in seventh, while Joseph Lau represented the boys' side with a determined effort to place 15th overall.
The evening concluded with the 15-17 Boys 400m Medley Relay, where Axel Wernbo, Joseph Lau, Logan Jones, and Connor Hupman combined to finish seventh in 4:15.50. Despite several near-misses in the individual lanes, the gold-medal triumph of the girls' relay team ensures that Bermuda heads into the third day of competition with immense momentum and their first title of the meet safely secured.
Sunday, April 05, 2026
Bermuda Swimmers Surge into Finals on Day Two
IslandStats.com
Bermuda’s aquatic stars turned up the heat at the XXXIX Carifta Aquatics Championships as a flurry of personal bests and clinical qualifying performances secured a host of finals berths on the second day of competition.
The morning session was defined by Bermuda’s dominance in the 200m Freestyle events. Dominic Wright led the charge in the 13-14 Boys category, clocking a superb 2:03.70 to qualify second-fastest for the evening showcase. He was followed by Rory Shepherd, who placed ninth in 2:08.26. In the 15-17 age group, Katherine Wheddon and Marleigh Howes both successfully navigated their heats to claim fifth and eighth seeds respectively, while Madison Fox and Colette Durkin showed impressive symmetry in the 11-12 Girls division, finishing just five-hundredths of a second apart.
The sprint specialists were equally effective in the 50m Butterfly preliminaries. Dominic Wright continued his busy morning by placing 10th in the 13-14 Boys, while Marleigh Howes narrowly missed a top-eight seed by finishing ninth in the 15-17 Girls. The 15-17 Boys field proved incredibly dense, with Logan Jones, Joseph Lau, and Gabe Maranzana all delivering strong swims in a heat separated by less than half a second.
Bermuda’s backstroke contingent signaled their intent with a series of high-ranking finishes in the 100m heats. Dominic Wright and Rory Shepherd both secured prime lanes for the 13-14 Boys final, qualifying third and fifth respectively. They were joined by Connor Hupman, who touched the wall in exactly 1:00.00 to qualify fourth in the 15-17 Boys, while Violet Smith secured fifth in the 15-17 Girls with a composed 1:09.09.
Saturday, April 04, 2026
Mewett & Shepherd Claim Medals in Martinique
IslandStats.com
Bermuda’s swimmers made an immediate splash at the XXXIX Carifta Aquatics Championships, securing two podium finishes on a high-octane opening night at the Pierre Samot Community Aquatic Centre.
In the first finals session of the meet in Le Lamentin, Martinique, Teagan Mewett provided the island's breakthrough moment. Competing in the 15-17 Girls 200m Breaststroke, delivered a composed tactical performance. Maintaining a strong position throughout the eight lengths, she touched the wall in 2:45.80 to claim a well-deserved bronze medal, marking Bermuda’s first trip to the podium of the 2026 championships.
The momentum continued in the sprint events, where Rory Shepherd excelled in the 13-14 Boys 50m Backstroke. Having qualified strongly from the morning heats, Shepherd found an extra gear in the final, clocking a blistering 29.19 to secure the silver medal. He was narrowly beaten to the wall by Michael Sobers of Barbados, but his performance ensured Bermuda finished the individual events with a multi-medal haul.
The evening concluded with the traditional fireworks of the relay events. In the 15-17 Boys 4x100m freestyle, the quartet of Connor Hupman, Noah Maranzana, Gabriel Maranzana, and Logan Jones battled hard against a field dominated by the hosts and the Bahamas. The Bermudian team stopped the clock in 3:39.32 to finish in sixth place.
That result was mirrored in the 15-17 Girls 4x100m freestyle relay, where Gabriella Cechini, Katherine Wheddon, Elanna Fulton, and Marleigh Howes produced a spirited display. Navigating a competitive field, the girls' squad also secured a sixth-place finish, recording a time of 4:09.67. With two medals already in the bag and several relay teams showing promise, the Bermuda delegation heads into the second day of competition with significant wind in their sails.
Saturday, April 04, 2026
Bermuda Charge into Finals as CARIFTA Aquatics Begins
IslandStats.com
The XXXIX CARIFTA Aquatics Championships have exploded into life, with a wave of Bermudian swimmers securing their places in the showpiece finals following a dominant opening morning in the pool.
Bermuda's elite established their podium credentials early, navigating a high-stakes preliminary session to ensure the island will be heavily represented when the medals are decided.
In the Girls 15-17 200m Breaststroke, Teagan Mewett delivered a statement performance. Mewett showcased exceptional underwater phase work to clock a sharp 2:45.07, securing her place in the A Final with the second-fastest time overall. Her teammate, Maggie Mewett, finished 13th in 3:08.79.
In the younger bracket, Scarlett Spurling put in a resilient shift in the Girls 13-14 200m Breaststroke, finishing 10th with a time of 3:07.41. The Boys 15-17 division saw Joseph Lau and Noah Maranzana battle through a stacked field to finish 15th and 17th respectively.
The sprint backstroke events proved to be a goldmine for Bermuda's finalists, with four athletes booking their lanes for the evening session.
In the Boys 13-14 50m Backstroke, Rory Shepherd and Dominic Wright produced a clinical double-act. Shepherd touched the wall in 29.56 to qualify 5th, while Wright followed closely in 30.00 to qualify 7th, ensuring a dual Bermudian threat in the A Final.
The senior ranks mirrored this success. Violet Smith displayed impressive explosive power to finish 7th in the Girls 15-17 50m Backstroke (31.58), comfortably advancing to the A Final. In the Boys 15-17 event, Connor Hupman signaled his intent with a blistering 27.26 to qualify 4th fastest for the A Final.
The morning session opened with the gruelling Girls 15-17 800m Freestyle, where Katherine Wheddon topped heat one in 9:54.11, while Jorgia White finished 3rd in the heat with a time of 10:02.88.
In the butterfly lanes, Marleigh Howes demonstrated her versatility. Competing in the Girls 15-17 100m Butterfly, Howes navigated a technical race to clock 1:06.92, qualifying 7th overall to secure yet another A Final berth for the Gombey Warriors.
Friday, April 03, 2026
Regional Heavyweights Arrive as CARIFTA Aquatics Begins
IslandStats.com
The scale of the 2026 CARIFTA Aquatics Championships has been laid bare before a single medal has been contested, with a massive logistical operation welcoming the region’s elite to the poolside.
In a whirlwind 24-hour window, the championships demonstrated their significant regional footprint as 426 athletes and officials successfully checked in. The arrivals hall became a microcosm of the Caribbean basin, with 21 delegations processed across nine different airlines and dispersed to four major accommodation sites.
The logistical sequence began at 9:05 a.m. with the arrival of Caribbean Airlines and did not conclude until 9:30 p.m. In a fitting end to the day’s proceedings, the final group to be welcomed was a 24-strong party from Bermuda, who touched down to complete the first phase of registrations.
The sheer diversity of the field already on the ground reflects the prestige of these championships. Delegations from Barbados, Trinidad, the Bahamas, and Jamaica have joined smaller but equally determined outfits from the likes of Anguilla, Dominica, and Saint Kitts. With the US Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, and Suriname also registered, the event has immediately established a truly pan-Caribbean atmosphere.
The 21 nations currently in residence wasted little time in acclimatising to their new surroundings. Many teams utilized the remainder of the day for light training sessions, shaking off the "travel legs" and finding their range in the competition water.
Beyond the physical preparation, the focus now shifts to the cultural heart of the event. Athletes are currently putting the finishing touches on their preparations for the opening ceremony—a traditional highlight that signals the transition from travel logistics to high-stakes aquatic battle.
With the regional heavyweights now in place and the psychological warfare of the practice lanes underway, the stage is officially set for what promises to be a landmark edition of the CARIFTA championships.
Bermuda enter the stadium in the video at the 1:26:30 mark
