Seaton, Winter hard at work for CARIFTA challenge

 By Akeem Greene

Junior National Swimmers Leon Seaton, Lian Winter and Raekwon Noel have managed to qualify for April’s 15-19 CARIFTA Games in the Bahamas.
The trio made the qualifying times after the  Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) held three trials with the last being the Mashramani Meet earlier this month at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal.
Guyana Times Sport spoke to two swimmers who took a breather during their rigorous training in the pool ahead of the championships.
Seaton qualified for the 50m butterfly in a time of 30.12 seconds and a similar feat was achieved in the 50m free style where he clocked a time of 27.3s.  He moved his tally to six events by clocking the required times in the 50m breaststroke (38.24s), 50m backstroke (33.99s) and 100m freestyle (1:01.99s) and 400m freestyle (4:59.38s) races to his list of qualifying events.
“The training I have been going through is very rough most days I have been waking up early  exercising   especially  when I’m not in  the pool so I could give my best effort and come out on top,” the 13 year-old Seaton told this publication.
The North Georgetown Secondary School student who is arguably one of the country’s best chances of securing a medal at the championships revealed that he plans to work on correcting his technique as it regards his arm strokes, breathing patterns and kicks.
In speaking on his chances of copping a medal he stated, “Heading into to these games my chances are 88% of me winning; I might have a good chance of getting third or second but not sure about first.”
In finding the other 12%, the Sliver Shark Aquatic Club Swimmer said that he will be training hard and giving his best effort.
Being in the in the pool since the age of three and then competing from age five, the mystery is why does Seaton the love the water this much.
He revealed that “I just love the water, it motivates me to achieve my goals; swimming is a very stress relieving activity, occupies your time and simply eases your mind.”

Undoubtedly with an illustrious career ahead, Seaton has his eyes set on an Olympic medal.
“I would like my career to head to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and not just qualify but bring Guy

ana’s first medal in swimming.”
On the other hand, for compatriot winter, her qualification came as more of a surprise. She clocked a time of 34.86 seconds in the 50m butterfly at the first long-course time-trial event in January then returned to lower it to 32.28s and dip below the qualifying time of 32.57s.

Her success continued in the 200m butterfly, recording of personal best of 2:58.97s to easily beat   the qualifying time of 3:05.0s.
“I was excited I  thought wouldn’t  have made

it;  when I was swimming it felt so slow, I didn’t realize I did it, when I finished everyone was jumping and celebrating but I was nervous since there are so much countries taking part and I’m just one swimmer,” the Dorado Speed Swim Club member stated.
Considering the amount of nerves ahead of the championships, the swimmer was questioned if she thinks she can return with a medal. “I have been working hard with coach Shyka Gonsalves so it depends on how hard I push myself and how hard I can go; if I believe in myself  maybe I can get; I’m nervous and I don’t know if I can beat all of these people  but I will try my best,” The Bishops’ High School Student disclosed.
With the demands of school as added pressure, Winter said that combining the two has plenty to do with time management.
The 13 year-old said, “It is a lot of hard work and time management, you have come out of the pool and start your homework, sleep then back to the pool.”
The other qualifier for the events was Raekwon Noel as his stellar performance came in the 400m freestyle achieving a personal best of 5:10.69s
Also swimming impressive times was 10-year-old Aleka Persaud, who clocked a  remarkable 32.57s in the 50m butterfly, equaling the qualifying time,  however, due to being in the 9-10 category, her age will prevent her from making the trip.