swimming sensation Ashley Aitken came back to better a pair of 13-14 age group standards at the Dr. Ralph Hicken Memorial three-day meet in Toronto, Canada.

Aitken set new marks in the 100 metres butterfly and 100 metres backstroke, clocking one minute, 12.35 seconds and 1:13.75 respectively, to go along with a spectacular 1:02.18 in the 100 freestyle that had the local contingent buzzing.

Aitken also enjoyed a solid performance in the 100 metres breaststroke, placing second overall in 1:21.63.

Meanwhile, Roy-Allen Burch took first place honours in the 50 metres freestyle for 13-14 year-olds, being timed in 26.21, and was fourth in the 100 at 1:00.45.

Anastasia Lau placed fourth in both the 100 and 200 metres breaststroke for girls aged 13-14 with times of 1:22.67 and 3:01.33 respectively.

Competing in the 15 and over group, Graham Smith placed fourth in the 50 freestyle (25.05), sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:11.04) and eighth in the individual medley (2:23.62), while Scott Simmons weighed in with a sixth place finish in the 50 freestyle (26.67).

Bermuda also offered a challenge in the relay, as the men's 4x50 team ended up third and the 15 and over quartet placed fourth.

In all, 29 spots were attained in the finals and consolation finals combined and 11 swimmers qualified for the Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships slated for Aruba in July.

"This was an excellent, high calibre meet for us,'' said national swim coach Richard Goodwin. "There were at least eight potential Canadian Olympic swimmers there using the meet as a final tune-up before the Olympic trials next month in Montreal.

"We got much more than we expected out of the competition as this is still preseason for our swimmers and it gave a good indication of where we are and judging from it we should have high expectations for the summer.'' Also at the meet was potential Bermuda Olympic team contender Ronald Cowen, who competed under the banner of Canadian swim club Row Region of Waterloo.

Cowen took part in the 15 and over bracket, contributing a first in the 100 freestyle (54.66) and a fourth in the 200 (2:01.50).

Those confirming themselves for the Aruba meet included Kiera Aitken, Ashley Robinson, Andrew Shaw, Michael O'Conner, James Cowen and Stephen Kenny along with Ashley Aitken, Lau, Burch, Smith and Simmons.