Bermuda will be among the countries competing for honours at the 35th Carifta Swimming Championships in Wildey, Barbados.

The island will be represented by a team of 12 swimmers that will compete in the 15 to 17 boys and girls individual and relay events at the regional championships to be held at the Barbados Aquatic Centre from April 16 to 20.

Flying Bermuda’s banner will be Elijah Daley, Sam Williamson, Flynn Watson-Brown, Finn Moseley, Brandon Adkins, Taylor White, Violet Smith, Myeisha Sharrieff, Arabella Newport Derbyshire, Imojen Judd and Marleigh and Bella Howes.

White, Moseley and Williamson are the most senior members of the team at 17-years-old, while Derbyshire and Smith are the youngest at 12.

Williamson has already left his mark on the championships having set the boys 11 to 12 records in the 50m breaststroke (32.42sec), 100m breaststroke (1:13.04) and 200m breaststroke (2:36.67) in Nassau, Bahamas in 2017.

Bermuda’s Elan Daley, the sister of present team member Elijah, also holds the girls 11 to 12 records in the 50m free (26.59), 100m free (1:06), 200m free (2:10.26), 50m backstroke (31:52), 200m back (2:29.11), 50m butterfly (28:87) and 100m fly (1:05.98).

She also holds the record in the girls 13 to 14 200m free (2:06.13), which was set the last time the championships were held in Bridgetown, Barbados in 2019.

Bermuda’s team will be accompanied in the Caribbean by coaches Ben Smith and Shona Palmer and manager Rebecca White.

“Bermuda Swimming is excited to announce the team that met the qualifying time and were selected for 2022,” head national coach Smith said. “Please join us in congratulating our 2022 team and wishing them luck.”

Bermuda’s contingent will depart for Barbados on April 14.

The Carifta Swimming Championships are being held for the first time in three years as the 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

“Over that period of time unfortunately several swimmers have missed their opportunity to be selected for Carifta,” Smith added. “Some of them have aged out and will never get that opportunity while others will now be making their first team after qualifying in 2020.”

Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, the island’s swimmers have remained committed throughout their preparations for the event.

“Through all the delays and interruptions that have happened in the two Covid years we still saw swimmers working hard, staying focused and preparing for their opportunity,” Smith said.

Hosts Barbados are the reigning champions and are bidding for a fourth straight title.