There were heart-warming stories everywhere at this year’s Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Invitational Swimming Championships. Amidst the battle for gold, side by side with the struggle for places on CARIFTA teams, there were tales of new heroes and unexpected achievement. The Commonwealth of Dominica , for instance, actually had fewer points than they did in 2003, but they made people sit up and take notice of their emerging programme. Janna Williams did not have her way amongst the 18-and-over girls, thanks to the elevation of Grenada ’s Gabriella Grant.But Roberta Allport, Ilyana Green and Dabielle Hawkins in the 11-12 girls showed that the future of Dominican swimming is bright. As anticipated, Tuesday Watts of Grenada was the winner is that division. The little phenom was part of a Grenada team that traveled from far and wide, scattered as they have been in the wake of September’s Hurricane Ivan. Setting seven OECS records, Tuesday’s closest challenger was her compatriot, Samantha LaQua. Also taking away some of Tuesday’s shine, though, was a team from Martinique , which contested the 11-12 and 13-14 divisions. The French, through Allison Fenasse, Nicholas Charlery and Nicholas Nelson, came loaded for bear. The experiment of introducing invitational teams for the first time had its pros and cons, but overall it must be deemed a success. Martinique raised the standards and gave athletes like Watts some competition. St Lucia ’s Jean-Luc Augier also benefited from being in a very competitive division. He set just one record, but Jean-Luc sawm some of his best times under constant pressure from Grenada’s Martin Renwick, Dominica’s Kimal Lloyd-Phillip and Martinique’s Geoffrey Jean-Francoix in the 13-14 boys. Jonathan Calderon and Marlon James were terrific for St Lucia in the 15-17 boys. Calderon, fresh from representing St Lucia at the World Short Course Championships, was way ahead of his opposition. James was the only swimmer within 25 points. Already having been to the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad and World Champs this year, Natasha Georgeos took no prisoners in the 15-17 girls. Charlotte Palmer-Martin supported her compatriot well, with Ardene Nicholas of Dominica also in the frame. Freestyle, butterfly, backstroke, Natasha set three new OECS records to win her division easily. St Lucia ended the meet with 1548.5 points, well ahead of Grenada (723) and Dominica (679). But it was a triumph just for Grenada to be there, and Dominica improved tremendously from 2003. Martinique , the only “guest” team, did well with a small squad, amassing 411.5 points. Antigua-Barbuda earned their only points (28) in the 18-and-over boys, through Arden Williams and Alpheus O’Garro. Competing only in freestyle sprints, the two were the only swimmers from Antigua , that nation having decided only last week that it would be traveling to St Lucia . SOURCE: OECSATHLETE.COM