Tornadoes Swim Club continues to solidify its legacy as one of the premier domestic swimming programmes following an outstanding performance at the Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) inaugural awards ceremony.

The event, which took place on March 1 at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, was hosted by Sports Minister Olivia Grange and Lance Rochester, president of the ASAJ.

Attendees were inspired by a compelling keynote address delivered by Alia Atkinson, World Aquatic Athlete chairperson, who encouraged Jamaica’s emerging swimming talents to continue striving for excellence on the world stage.

The Tornadoes’ athletes and coaches were recognised for their outstanding performances throughout the 2024 season. Multiple swimmers received national and regional accolades for setting records and solidified their status as Jamaica’s top talent in the sport.

Among the evening’s top honourees were Sabrina Lyn, named ‘Swimmer of the Year’, and Nathaniel Thomas, who received special recognition for his outstanding performance at the World Short Course Championships, where he competed at the highest international level.

The 15-17 age group showcased some of the country’s top swimming talents, with Tornadoes swimmers excelling in individual and relay events. Nelson Denny, Malcolm McKenzie, and Brady Lewison led the charge by setting new national records in the 200m and 400m freestyle relays while also being part of the ‘Relay of the Year’ 200m freestyle team.

Individually, Denny was named local champion in the 15-17 boys’ category. At the same time, McKenzie earned the title of regional champion and Brady Lewison earned the runner up title, highlighting their dominance in their respective events.

In the 11-12 age group, Kia Alert had a phenomenal season, securing multiple mational records in the 50m freestyle, 50m breaststroke and 100m breaststroke and contributing to the record-breaking 800m freestyle relay team alongside Kai Lawson, Emmanuelle Spence, and Anna-Lyssa Cooke. Alert’s dominance also earned her the local champion and regional champion titles in the 11-12 girls’ category.

In addition to their record-breaking performance in the 800m freestyle relay, Kai Lawson and Anna-Lyssa Cooke were recognised for their individual achievements. Lawson was named first runner-up local champion and first runner-up regional champion in the 11-12 girls’ category, while Cooke received the first runner-up humanitarian award, highlighting her dedication to both excellence in the pool and community impact.

Noah Parker also had a standout season, earning the title of first runner-up local champion for 2024 in the 11-12 boys’ category, demonstrating his consistency and competitive spirit in the pool.

In the 10 & under division, Sienna-Reece Sharpe emerged as the local champion, proving that the Tornadoes Swim Club remains a powerhouse at all levels of competition.

The Master’s Division was dominated by Tornadoes Swim Club, with Kristina Chuck-Smith, Lisa Griffith, Bridget Ffrench, Raquel Onyonyor and Ulrich Schwarz-Schampera receiving certificates of recognition for their performances at the PanAm Masters Championships held in Trinidad and Tobago.

The event was also a moment of great pride for Tornadoes’ leadership, as head coach and owner Wendy Lee was named Coach of the Year. Coach Annelies Denny, alongside coach Wendy Lee, received a Certificate of Recognition for their service on the ASAJ Technical Committee.

“This is a proud moment for Tornadoes Swim Club,” said coach Wendy Lee. “Our swimmers have shown tremendous dedication, discipline, and determination. The national records and championship titles are a testament to their hard work and the strong foundation we continue to build at Tornadoes. I am especially thrilled to see our young athletes making history, and I am confident they will continue to elevate Jamaican swimming on the international stage.”