Swimming Championships.

Some 350 swimmers from 15 nations -- including 22 from Bermuda -- have gathered in Barbados for the meet, which began with preliminary heats yesterday morning.

And already six Island swimmers have qualified for finals, including Stephen Fahy, who last night was favoured to pick up Bermuda's first medal.

Fahy, swimming unrested and unshaved as he continues preparation for the Commonwealth Games, won his heat in the 100-metre butterfly and was seeded first for the final.

Trevor Ferguson also swam in the final of the 400-metre freestyle while Tamika Williams was in the 100m butterfly final.

In the 15-17 age group, Bermuda had two finalists: Matthew Hammond, also unrested and unshaved, was second in his heat of the 400m freestyle and was seeded seventh, while Kim Frith, competing in her first Caribbean championships, swam a personal best time of one minute, 24.76 seconds in the heats and was also seeded seventh.

Other personal best times were recorded by backstrokers Roy-Allan Burch (1:17.25 in 11-12 100m) and Kiera Aitken (1:15.58 in the girls 13-14), plus Michael O'Connor who lowered his 400m freestyle best to 4:53.92.

Both the boys and girls 15-17 medley relay teams were also competing in the finals last night.