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The 23rd staging of the YMCA/Burger King Prep & Primary Schools Swimming Championships transformed the National Stadium Pool into a record-breaking arena on Friday, May 1, as young athletes from across the island delivered a powerful message on the impact of sporting access.

Amidst the cheers of over 500 athletes and supporters, standout performers from both primary and preparatory schools shattered meet records, proving that Jamaica’s aquatic talent is flourishing at the developmental level.

Excelsior Primary’s Jordayna Thomas emerged as a triple record-breaker, dominant in the 11-12 girls’ category. Thomas clocked 30.09 seconds in the 50m freestyle and 37.01 seconds in the 50m breaststroke. She further cemented her standout performance by resetting the 50m backstroke record with a time of 33.85 seconds, eclipsing the previous mark of 35.14.

“I came to this competition with the mindset that I’m going to win, and I’m going to break the record,” Thomas said. Despite balancing her training with Grade 6 PEP exams, she emphasised the discipline required, saying, “If you want to break a record… work really hard, go to training every single day, you can do it.”

Thomas was joined in the record books by Danielia Powell of Creative Kids Learning Academy, who delivered a masterclass in the 9-10 girls’ age group. Powell shattered three meet records, winning the 50m backstroke in a blistering 31.85 seconds, besting the previous record of 33.88. She also reset the marks for the 50m breaststroke in 38.33 seconds and the 50m butterfly in 30.38 seconds.

Meanwhile, although this year’s meet saw fewer participants from the West, Maverick Holder, the sole representative for Montego Bay Preparatory, secured gold for the 9-10 boys’ 50m breaststroke, demonstrating that elite talent is not confined to the capital.

These feats provided a vivid backdrop to the organisers’ focus on inclusivity in the sport this year. Rashai Graham, Burger King’s Community Communications and Strategy Executive, noted that the event is a “critical intervention” designed to bridge the gap in a sport often hindered by a lack of facilities and funding.

“At Burger King, our investment in youth sports has always been about more than the scoreboard. We believe in sports as a vehicle for structure and character,” Graham stated. “For over 20 years, Burger King has supported the aquatic sport powered by the belief that undeterred support for Jamaica’s youth will provide the opportunity for them to hone their skills and change lives.”

Homing in on the issue and calling for wider access to the sport, Excelsior Primary coach Prince Easton added, “It’s a big deal when you have a child attending a particular school, rising above all odds, making the national team.” And commenting on his school’s newest record breaker, he added, “Jamaica can look forward to greater things coming from Jordayna Thomas.”

National CARIFTA coach Gillian Millwood emphasised that the meet remains a key stepping stone for the country’s international success. She also noted that while most elite swimmers are identified early in the club system, the primary school environment remains a unique breeding ground for character.

“Any coach will tell you there is some exceptional talent that will come out of the primary school system based on just the resourcefulness of kids from primary schools and a real go-getter mentality regardless of what area they’re in,” Millwood said. “Primary school kids can be absolute standouts; they show that true potential.”

The day concluded with the high-energy battle for the Burger King Vibe Trophy, a $50,000 prize aimed at fostering support in the stands to build the athletes’ mental resilience throughout the competition.

The final winners were:

• Overall Prep Champions Boys – Sts. Peter and Paul Preparatory
• Overall Prep Champions Girls – Creative Kids Learning Academy
• Overall Primary Champions Boys – Jessie Ripoll Primary
• Overall Primary Champions Girls – Excelsior Primary
• BK Vibe Trophy Winner – Mona Preparatory