Aggie Swimmers Shine in Central American Games
Jul 21, 2010 | Men's Swimming and Diving
July 21, 2010
MAYAQUEZ, PUERTO RICO--The Texas A&M swimming and diving program is well represented at the Central American Games being held this week in Mayaquez, Puerto Rico. Leading the way is former A&M swimmer Alia Atkinson, from Jamaica, who has won three events thus far.
Atkinson, who was born in Jamaica, was a four-year letter winner for Coach Steve Bultman and Texas A&M. She helped the women's swimming and diving team to four consecutive Top Eight finishes in the NCAA Championships. As a senior this past year, Atkinson won the NCAA individual championship in the 200 breaststroke.
Atkinson has set three meet records this week winning gold medals in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.25), the 200 breaststroke (2:30.99) and the 200 individual medley (IM) (2:17.31). The 200 IM time also set a national Jamaican record.
Aggie junior Rita Medrano, from Aguascalientes, Mexico, finished second to Atkinson in the 200 IM just 0.49 seconds off of the record pace of Atkinson. Medrano finished fifth in the 50 butterfly and is scheduled to compete in the 100 butterfly Wednesday, the 400 IM on Thursday and the 200 butterfly on Friday.
Medrano was part of the gold medal 400 medley relay team that posted a time of 4:09.29 and that mark set a meet record. Joining Medrano on the relay was Liliana Ibanez, a Texas A&M signee.
On the men's side, Omar Enriquez, from San Andres Tuxtla, Mexico, won a bronze medal in the 400 IM with a time of 4:25.39 and took fifth place in the 200 butterfly.
As a freshmen, Enriquez helped the Aggies and head coach Jay Holmes bring home a 12th place finish at the 2010 NCAA Championships marking the 15th straight Top 25 finish for the Aggies. Enriquez broke multiple school records during the course of the season including the 1,000 freestyle mark that had stood since 1983.
Shawn Clarke, from Bridgetown, Barbados, a former A&M swimmer who lettered from 2007-09 swam the 100 freestyle and finished 12th.
The event runs through Friday, July 23.
Players Mentioned
