Bermuda got off to a flying start at the Caribbean Swimming Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, yesterday with six of the Island?s competitors coming through their morning heats to qualify for last night?s finals.

Particularly impressive was Michael O?Connor who smashed Stephen Fahy?s national record with a fast 25.92 seconds in the 50 metres butterfly in the men?s 18-plus age group. That was the second fastest time of those due to compete in last night?s final.

Former Olympian Fahy?s mark stood at 26.59.

O?Connor?s university colleague, Ashley Aitken, also earned a slot in the final of the same event with a time of 30.40 to snatch the last available berth.

Kiera Aitken, so far the only Bermudian swimmer to have qualified for next month?s Olympic Games in Athens, made it through to the 100 metres freestyle final with a sixth place finish in the heats in a time of 1:00.08, while Ronald Cowen, who is hoping to book his Olympic ticket at this meet, was seeded fifth for last night?s 100 freestyle final after clocking 53.64 in his morning heat.

In the youngest age group for 11 and 12 year-olds, Rebecca Sharpe swam an excellent 100 metre backstroke heat in a time of 1:16.56, and was seeded fourth for the evening final.

Rounding out Bermuda?s finalists was Chris Garcelon, who placed seventh in the 200 individual medley with an impressive time of 2:36.98.

Today?s heats will see Cowen attempt to qualify for the Olympics in his favourite event, the 200 freestyle, and Aitken swimming her premiere event, the 100 backstroke, while Catriona Brewin is expected to make a strong showing in the girls? 200 metres breaststroke.

The meet, featuring some 20 Caribbean nations, continues over five full days, ending on July 6.