Timothy Wynter of Tornadoes Swim Club. - File

Hosts Tornadoes Swim Club will seek to defend their title at the 13th renewal of their Invitational Swim Meet to be held at the University of the West Indies' (UWI) swimming pool, Mona Bowl, from tomorrow to Sunday, July 12.

The meet will be held in the newly modified pool. The pool was previously 55 yards but, with the construction of a bulkhead, now meets the 50-metre mark. With this modification, there will now be an additional 50m pool in the island outside of the National Stadium Pool.

Participating Clubs

Nine clubs have confirmed their participation for the event sponsored by telecommunication company LIME, with 384 swimmers down to compete. These clubs include Blue Marlin Swim Club from Montego Bay, Blue Seal Swim Club, Electric Eel Swim Club, Flying Fish Ambassadors, Marlin Swim Club, Tornadoes, Water Warriors, Y-Speedos and Unattached.

The unattached group includes individuals who compete for overseas clubs and, as such, are not allowed to swim for local clubs in the meet.

Swimming technical director Jackie Walter said the UWI has accommodated the meet because of the university's thrust on sport development.

"It opened a whole new arena for them as well in that they can offer the pool for winter training for northern universities," Walter said.

Walter said it is the first 50m meet they were having since February and she anticipated some very keen competition. "Tornadoes are the defending champions but we are sure that the Y-Speedos are going to be right there as our opponents," Walter said.

Tough competition

Swimmers will compete in the eight and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-and over and the masters divisions.

Timothy Wynter from Tornadoes, Kendese Nangle from Blue Seal, who is going to the World Championships, Barak and Yonaton Goren from Flying Fish are expected to provide tough competition for the other competitors.