Cayman Islands: Lila Higgo sets record in backstroke of Tyr Pro Swim Series

Cayman Islands representative Lila Higgo has lowered the age group region leading times in the backstroke of 29.20,1:03.16 AND 2:19.38 at Tyr meet in Fort Lauderdale. She has chosen arguably the most competitive stroke in women’s swimmer and is pushing the region to world-class standards.

At the recent concluded TYR Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale, Lila Higgo earned finals berths in all three backstroke races. The swimmer who swept the stroke in record fashion in the 13-14 age group at the 2022 CARIFTA Championships has relished the challenge of world class competition.

The Bolles Sharks swimmer in the 50 metre backstroke earned her first TYR Championship final with a heats time of 29.20 that places her fourth all time among swimmers who have competed at the CARIFTA Championship. Now in the 15-17 age group the 2014 standard of 29.84 by Trinidad and Tobago star Kristin Julien is on borrowed time.

She declared her intentions for another record backstroke sweep by her performances in the other backstroke races. In the 100 metre backstroke she lowered her own CIASA (Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association) record of 1:03.43 to 1:03.16 (split 30.67).

It is faster than the current 2019 CARIFTA record of 1:04.60 by Barbados Olympian Danielle Titus. That earned her a spot in the B final where placed sixth in a time of 1:03.35 (split time 30.49). That B final included American World Championship medallist Katie Grimes and Peruvian Olympian McKenna Debever. The heats swim ranks her fifth all time among CARIFTA representatives.

In the 200 metre backstroke she made the C final. There she equalled her PB of 2:19.38 (split time 1:06.91 in placing sixth. The CARIFTA record is 2:21.33 by Rebecca Sharpe. The Bermudan star set that time at CARIFTA before making her appearance at the 2009 World Championships in Italy.

Her swim ranks fourth all time. The list is headed by Bermudan Olympian Kiera Aitken with her record swim of 2:16.95. Higgo’s swims in Florida adds more excitement to a highly anticipated CARIFTA Championships in Curaçao that promises game changing record swims.