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Blackburn grabs second gold

Lisa Blackburn

Bermuda swimmer Lisa Blackburn set a new Caribbean Championships record when she claimed her second gold medal of the meet in the 100 metres breaststroke in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.Blackburn's time of one minute, 13.23 seconds broke the previous record of one minute, 3.33 seconds which was set back in 2005 by the Cuban Olympic swimmer Imaday Nunez, and is now the national record holder with this time as well.The 39-year-old Bermudian had already claimed silver and gold at the championships and dropped one second off her seeded time and smashed her own national record on her way to claiming top honours.She had earlier this week set a new national record in her gold medal winning 200 metres Individual Medley.Bermuda's national swim coach Ben Smith said: “Lisa Blackburn was our lone finalist in her best event, the 100 breast, and she was focused from the start.“She dropped a second from her seed time and in the process smashed her national record and won her second gold medal of the meet.”Also performing on day three were a host of locals including Jesse Washington who shaved a second off his personal best in the 100 metres butterfly which put him one second away from Nick Patterson's record.Washington is the youngest swimmer in his event, and according to Smith, “is gaining valuable experience” for future events.Ashley Yearwood also had a strong swim in the girls' 15-16 100 metres freestyle but was unable to reach the finals against some strong competition.Nick Patterson swam in the boys' 15-17 100 metres freestyle and 200m Individual Medley in personal best times but he also couldn't reach the finals.Nicole Yearwood and Rebecca Heyliger were last night competing in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterflyWashington will swim in the 50 metres freestyle while Nick Patterson and Ashley Yearwood compete in the 100 butterfly.