USA ratifies national record set by T&T-born swimmer
T&T Guardian.
In a precedent-setting decision, USA Swimming has officially ratified the National Age-Group Record set in the men’s 200 yard freestyle at the 2012 Junior Winter National Championships by T&T’s Dylan Carter. The meet was held earlier this month at the Allan Jones Aquatic Centre, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.
The 16-year-old Carter was largely unknown in USA swimming, and this was the first yards taper meet of his career and coming out of it he established himself as one of the best swimmers in his age-group in the country.
He placed third at juniors in the 50 yards freestyle (19.94 seconds), won the 100m yard backstroke (47.22), was fourth in the 100 yard freestyle (43.84), and in the biggest splash, with a 1:35.29 in the 200 yard freestyle, broke the 15-16 National Age-Group record.
The question remained up in the air as to whether or not it would count as a National Age Group Record, given that the Davie Nadadores swimmer had officially represented T&T in International competition.
It was ruled, however, that because Carter held an American passport, he was eligible for the record—the rule book doesn’t specify that a swimmer cannot be a “sporting citizen” of another country like it does for senior American records.
This decision was arrived upon after some amount of internal discussion at USA Swimming. A big congratulations to Carter and his coaches with the Davie Nadadores.
Next up, Carter, a standout for T&T at the Carifta Games, Caribbean Islands Swimming Championship and CCCAN levels over the years, will begin working toward next year’s Junior World Championships, where he is expected to team up with Bolles swimmer Emiro Goossen to form a lethal twosome.
Carter’s best long-course swims over the summer were 51.1/1:53.2 in the 200 and 200 free and a 56.8 in the 100 back, but one would presume that based on what we saw from him in yards, that he will easily beat those times in 2013.
