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Wednesday, March 18, 2026
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A Look Back at Bermuda’s CARIFTA Aquatics Records
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With the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships fast approaching, the spotlight turns to the history books where Bermuda’s swimmers have carved out a formidable legacy of continental records.
The island’s dominant presence at the regional showpiece is immortalized in several long-standing times that continue to set the standard for young talent across the Caribbean. In the Boys 11–12 category, Sam Williamson remains the gold standard for Breaststroke. During a rampant 2017 campaign in Nassau, Williamson swept the records for the 50m, 100m, and 200m distances. His times of 32.42, 1:13.04, and 2:36.67 respectively remain the benchmarks for the next generation of Bermudian Breaststroke specialists to chase.
Perhaps no name looms larger over the CARIFTA record books than Elan Daley, whose versatile brilliance across the 2018 and 2019 championships remains unparalleled in the Girls' divisions. In 2018, competing in Kingston, Jamaica, Daley produced a whirlwind of record-breaking swims in the 11–12 Age Group. Her sprint speed was unmatched, setting the current records in the 50m Freestyle with a 26.59 and the 100m Freestyle in 1:00.06.
Daley’s dominance extended far beyond the Freestyle sprints, as she also claimed records in the 200m backstroke and both Butterfly distances. Her tactical range was further evidenced in 2019 when she moved into the Girls 13–14 Age Group 200m Freestyle, clocking a sensational 2:06.13 in Bridgetown to cement her status as one of the most prolific record-holders in the event's history.
The individual accolades are complemented by a historic performance in the relay events. Bermuda’s 4×100m Freestyle Relay squad, featuring Elan Daley, Jessica Bruton, Taylor White, and Payton Zelkin, still holds the championship mark from their clinical display in April 2017. Their time of 4:16.14 serves as a reminder of the collective depth that has consistently seen Bermuda punch well above its weight on the international stage. As the 2026 cohort prepares for their turn in the spotlight, these historic marks provide the ultimate inspiration for a new era of podium hopefuls.
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Saturday, March 14, 2026
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Daley Shatters Bermuda Records in Dominant Display
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Fresh from being crowned Bermuda’s Junior Male Athlete of the Year, Elijah Daley has delivered a record-breaking masterclass at the 2026 U Sports Swimming Championships. Representing the University of Toronto, Daley signaled his intent from the very first session, systematically dismantling several of his own Bermuda national short course records during a grueling weekend of elite collegiate competition.
The onslaught began during the preliminaries of the 100m butterfly, where Daley clocked a time of 52.81 seconds to shave significant time off the previous benchmark he established at the 2024 World Championships. He carried that momentum directly into the 200m butterfly heats, securing a third-place seed with a blistering 1:58.12, eclipsing a record that had stood since late 2023. Not content with just the butterfly events, Daley also navigated a highly competitive field in the 200m individual medley, qualifying fifth for the final in 1:59.37.
As the lights brightened for the evening’s showpiece A Finals, Daley found another gear. In the 100m butterfly final, he lowered his national record for the second time in twelve hours, touching the wall in 52.56 seconds to claim fifth place overall. He followed this with an equally impressive performance in the 200m medley final, where his time of 1:58.91 broke the record he had set only weeks prior at the Ontario University Championships.
The pinnacle of Daley’s weekend came in the 200m butterfly final. In a display of immense endurance and tactical pacing, he surged to a fourth-place finish in a time of 1:57.32. The performance not only shattered the record he had set earlier that morning but also cemented his status as one of the most versatile and explosive talents in Bermudian swimming history. His ability to peak for the major collegiate finals underscores why he remains the island's premier junior prospect heading into the international summer season.
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Friday, March 06, 2026
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Bermuda Names Strong Contingent for Martinique Challenge
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 Fulton & Howes Looking for more Medals IslandStats.com
This year’s selection represents a significant expansion from the compact five-athlete team that competed in 2025, signaling a robust step forward in Bermuda’s current rebuilding phase. The 2026 team will be looking to build on the foundations laid last year in Trinidad, where Bermuda's small but clinical contingent secured multiple podium finishes.
Returning Medalists and Ones to Watch>font>
Leading the charge are three standout swimmers who secured medals for Bermuda during the 2025 CARIFTA Games:
Marleigh Howes: A seasoned competitor who was part of the medal-winning group that returned with twenty-four honors in 2024 and continued her strong form with finals appearances in 2025.
Connor Hupman: Regarded as a rising star after reaching the podium in all seven of his individual events in 2024, Hupman maintained his elite status last year by qualifying second-fastest for the 400m freestyle final.
Katherine Wheddon: The 2024 Junior Female Athlete of the Year remains a vital asset to the squad after achieving the fastest qualifying time in her signature 400m freestyle event during last year’s championships.
Notably absent from this year's roster is Thomas Cechini, who claimed Bermuda's first swimming medal of 2025 with a Bronze in the 1,500m freestyle.
The 2026 Squad
The full team travelling to Martinique includes a mix of experienced regional medalists and emerging debutants:
Gabby Cechini, Colette Durkin, Madison Fox, Elanna Fulton, Marleigh Howes, Connor Hupman, Logan Jones, Joseph Lau, Noah Maranzana, Gabriel Maranzana, Maggie Mewett, Teagan Mewett, Rory Shepherd, Scarlett Spurling, Violet Smith, Axel Wernbo, Katherine Wheddon, Jorgia White, and Dominic Wright.
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Monday, March 02, 2026
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Cechini Stars with Multiple PB’s at ECAC Championships
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Swimmer Thomas Cechini produced a series of standout performances as he and his Loyola University Maryland teammates competed at the ECAC Swimming and Diving Championships at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. In a dominant display of consistency and speed, Cechini successfully advanced to five A Finals throughout the meet.
Cechini’s individual campaign was highlighted by a string of lifetime bests in the freestyle and butterfly events. In the Men’s 500-Yard Freestyle A Final, he secured a seventh-place finish, stopping the clock in a new Personal Best time of 4:32.06. He followed this with another seventh-place finish in the Men’s 200-Yard Freestyle A Final with a time of 1:39.23, having previously lowered his Personal Best to 1:38.89 during the preliminary rounds.
The versatility of the Loyola sophomore was further evidenced in the Men’s 200-Yard Butterfly A Final, where he claimed eighth place while clocking a new Personal Best time of 1:50.59.
Beyond his individual accolades, Cechini proved to be a vital asset to the Loyola relay squads. He played a key role in the Men’s 400-Yard Freestyle Relay team that secured a podium spot, finishing third in 3:00.36. The success continued in the Men’s 400-Yard Medley Relay, where Cechini helped his team to a silver-medal finish, clocking a highly competitive 3:12.60.
This comprehensive set of results marks a significant milestone in Cechini's collegiate career as he continues to establish himself as a premier middle-distance threat on the East Coast.
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Tuesday, February 24, 2026
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Daley Shines with NC Qualification as Volunteers Finish 2nd
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Elan Daley made a triumphant return to championship swimming, securing a coveted National Championship Qualifying Time as her University of Tennessee "Lady Volunteers" claimed an impressive second-place finish at the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships.
The prestigious short-course yards meet, held in Knoxville, saw Tennessee amass a formidable 647 points, ultimately finishing behind the powerhouse Texas Longhorns, who secured the title with 718 points. For Daley, who has battled a series of injuries that have hampered her collegiate career, this championship marked her long-awaited debut at the highly competitive SEC level.
Daley’s performances underscored her resilience and talent. She began her campaign in the Women’s 200-Yard Freestyle preliminaries, where she touched the wall in 1:46.80, just shy of her personal best of 1:46.46, finishing 25th in a stacked field. In the Women’s 50-Yard Freestyle preliminaries, Daley again demonstrated her speed, clocking 22.69 for 30th place, narrowly missing her personal best of 22.52.
However, it was in the Women’s 100-Yard Freestyle that Daley truly excelled. In the preliminaries, she delivered a sensational personal best time of 48.57 seconds, securing 14th place and, crucially, earning an NCAA National Championship Qualifying Time. This performance propelled her into the Consolation Final, where she once again lowered her personal best, clocking an even faster 48.48 seconds to finish third in the heat and 11th overall – her second National Championship Qualifying Time of the meet.
Daley’s stellar individual achievement, combined with Tennessee’s strong team showing, signals a formidable end to a challenging season for the Bermudian international as she now looks ahead to the ultimate collegiate stage.
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