Jamaica: Jamaican Christanya Shirley won Silver in 50 free in 26.66 in the 2023 CARIFTA Aquatics Championships. Shirley sizzles in CARIFTA 15-17 debut. Christanya wins Silver in 50 free in 26.66.
Lifespan 007 Open Water Swim took to Facebook and stated that Jamaican Christanya Shirley made a great regional 15-17 debut in the 50 freestyle at the 2023 CARIFTA Championships. She left the shores of her country unbeaten at home for the Enith Brigitha pool in Curaçao.
She would put her undefeated tag against the best of the region’s youngsters.Shirley also came to the senior CARIFTA age with a glittering CV that saw her winning 13-14 sprint at crowns at CARIFTA, Pan Am Aquatics age group swimming championships and a Silver at the CCCAN Championships. She had also dipped under the 27 seconds barrier twice and boasted a personal best of 26.87.
Christanya eased into the Championship final with a swim of 27.22. In the final it took a sensational swim by the Cayman Islands Olympian Jillian Crooks to deny Christanya the Gold. Jillian recorded the fastest time ever done at CARIFTA with a swim of 26.08. Shirley created history for Jamaica and the region as she became the fastest first year entrant to swim to win Silver in 26.66. Her new PB is also the second fastest Jamaican performance of all time by a girl at CARIFTA.
Her swim now gets her closer to the Jamaican swimming federation’s 2023 World Championships minimum standard of 26.18.Also in her sights will the the PAN AM Games A standard of 26.05.
The 2008 national age group record of 25.95 set by Olympian and former University of Michigan star Natasha Moodie will also be a target for the speedy Shirley. The 2023 CARIFTA Championships were held recently in Curaçao in a pool named after the legendary Enith Brigitha. The Olympic icon set regional standards at the World Champs representing the Netherlands.
