FOR THE FIRST TIME in four years, both titles of the Secondary Schools' Swimming Championships are back in Crumpton Street after Harrison College annihilated the competition at the Aquatic Centre yesterday.

The girls claimed their seventh straight title with 305 points, more than 100 ahead of St Ursula's (194), Queen's College (169), The St Michael School (106), and Combermere (90).

The race for the boys' title was against two-time defending champions Queen's College, but they had to settle for second place with 269 points, while Harrison College amassed 303. There was a massive gap of almost 200 points with The St Michael School and the ever-improving Dottin's Academy (up from seventh) tied on 77 points. Combermere were fifth on 67.

"It feels great. It's great to see the seventh consecutive title for the girls, and the boys have regained the title after a hiatus," said jubilant physical education teacher Ryan Leacock.

He said the team was balanced across the board, and attributed the success to the work done by the various swim clubs.

"All of our swimmers are affiliated to different clubs. What I tried to do, along with swim captains Shomari Powell and Amelia Rouse, was arrange the team strategically where we could get the most points. Thanks have to go to the coaches [of the clubs] because that is where they [the children] do most of their training."

Harrison College also had four of the six age-group champions, including most outstanding female swimmer Deandre Small. Competing in the 12-and- Under age group, she won the 100-metre individual medley in 1 minute, 13.64 seconds and the 50-metre backstroke in 33.73 seconds. She got silver medals in the 50-metre breast (38.27) and both relays, and bronze in the 50-metre fly (36.14). She faced stiff competition from The Lodge School's Zabrina Holder and Amara Gibbs of The St Michael School.

Justin Babb of Queen's College was the Most Outstanding Male Swimmer for the second straight year, being unbeaten in his events. Slow on the land, Babb explodes in the water to show he is in a class by himself. He won the 100-metre free in 56.04; was five seconds ahead of Shai Stewart in the 100-metre IM (1:03.99); took the 50-metre fly in 27.80; the 50-metre back in 28.79; 50-metre breast in 33.81, and 50-metre free in 25.71.

Babb was the X-factor in the relays. Although Harrison College led for the first three legs, once Babb hit the water in his red cap he glided past Ashar Gaskin to touch the pad first.

Fourteen-year-old Warren Kellman and Tristan Ward, 12, of Harrison College also had a good meet. Kellman won all of the races in the 13-to-14 age group except the 50-metre breaststroke in which he was fifth, while Ward was equally dominant in the 12-and-Under age group, winning four races and placing second in the 100-metre freestyle.

Lani Cabrera of St Ursula's took top prize in the 13-to-14 age group, while Michelle Dowell won the 15-and-over section.

Division Champions:

Girls' 12-and-Under: Deandre Small (Harrison College) 45 points

Boys' 12-and-Under: Tristan Ward (Harrison College) 43

Girls' 13-to-14: Lani Cabrera (St Ursula's) 41

Boys' 13-to-14: Warren Kellman (Harrison College) 49

Girls' 15-and-Over: Michelle Dowell (Harrison College) 30

Boys' 15-and-Over: Justin Babb (Queen's College) 54