SWIMMING: Sprint standout Emily MacDonald leads Jamaican national rankings in 500m pool

Jamaica: Jamaican sprint standout Emily MacDonald secured the top spot in the National rankings of the country in the 500-metre pool and set a new record to a new 50 free PB of 26.28. She has returned to swimming after a long absence and turned the attention of the audience toward herself with great performance. 

Lifespan 007 open water swim through their official Facebook account shared the update on the match and extended greetings

On February 23 in Annapolis, Maryland Jamaican sprint standout Emily MacDonald signalled a successful return to the 50 metre pool. Competing for Columbia University Emily set a new PB of 26.28 in the 50 metre freestyle . That bettered her previous PB of 26.44 set at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia.

She is now the first Jamaican woman under the 27 seconds barrier for 2023. In her sights will the be her federation’s minimum standards for the 2023 World Championships of 26.18 and PAN AM Games A standard of 26.05.

MAcDonald is enjoying a good run from the Ivy League Championships. On the final day of the those Championships she lowered her old 100 yard freestyle record of 50.16 set when she was in high school for the Bolles school. In the heats she swam 49.87 (split 23.60) to make her second consecutive Championship final. There she swam to a another PB of 49.47 (split 23.71) to place fourth, the highest ranked Columbia swimmer. The school record is within her grasp as the 2019 mark stands at 49.36 to Mary Ashby.

MacDonald is now the third fastest Jamaican woman of all time in the race. The list is headed by Olympian Natasha Moodie with her time of 49.08.

In the relay 400 yard freestyle relay she was the second fastest lead swimmer with her another sub 50 100 effort of 49.78 (split 23.86). The team placed fifth in a school record of 3:20.28. MacDonald is also on the school record board for the 50 yard freestyle 22.43,800 yard freestyle relay, 7:10.44,200 yard freestyle relay 1:30.91.