Jamaica: Jamaican Sidrell Williams captured his first 100 metre title at the 2023 edition of the Puerto Rico International Swimming open. After a Silver medal effort in 2019 52.49 (heats 52.15) and fourth last year 52.89 (52.42 heats) he worked his way to the top of the podium in San Juan.
Lifespan 007 Open Water Swim took to Facebook to share the update and stated that the Azura Florida Aquatics athlete put together splits of 25.06 and 26.74 to win in 51.80 crushing his season best of 55.08. That was the second fastest time of his career. His best stands at 51.55. It is also the fastest time for Jamaica in 2023.
The Wolmer’s Boys high school and Howard University graduate was well under his nation’s CAC (Central American and Caribbean) Games qualifying mark of 52.73. He will have his sights on the PAN AM Games A time of 50.10 and the World champs B cut of 50.21. A veteran of Team Jamaica he will be looking to make his debut at the above mentioned multi sports Games.
Silver went to Saint Lucian team mate Jayhan Odlum-Smith 52.07 and Bronze to Costa Rica’s Guido Montero 52.97. There would be another PB miss in the 50 metre butterfly . Williams earned his first podium placing at the competition in this race. He won Bronze in an Azura sweep. Sidrell touched in 24.87.He is the only Jamaican under 25 seconds for the year.Again he was well under the Jamaican CAC Games time of 25.59.
The World Champs B cut for the event stands at 24.35. Silver went to Haitian Olympian Davidson Vincent in 24.84. The Gold was won by Odlum-Smith in 24.45.
In other results Williams made the Championship final in the 50 metre freestyle placing fourth in a SB and PAN AM B cut of 23.86. He has returned to competing in the 200 metre butterfly. Williams posted a Jamaican season leading time of 2:14.04 to place eighth overall.
