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Two more gold for Bermuda swimmers

Bermuda's gold medal winning 4x100 metres relay team: Rebecca Heyliger, Rebecca Sharpe, Lis aBlackburn and Ashley Yearwood.

Bermuda’s swimmers picked up two more golds and a bronze on day four of competition in the Central American and Caribbean Amateur Swimming Confederation Championships in Costa Rica on Thursday night.Lisa Blackburn, who won gold medals on each of the first three days of competition, kept the sequence going when she won the 50 metres breaststroke final before teaming up with Rebecca Sharpe, Rebecca Heyliger and Ashley Yearwood to win the 4x100 metres medley relay gold in the final event of the night, setting a new national record in the process.“Last up was our women’s 4x100 medley relay and I had doubts of how they could perform,” said coach Ben Smith, citing fatigue and sore muscles. “The two Rebeccas had just jumped out of the 200 back while Lisa and Ashley were bothered by shoulder pain.“Rebecca Sharpe finished the backstroke in third place handing over to Lisa Blackburn in the breaststroke. Lisa caught the leader and finished just ahead before Rebecca Heyliger dove in with a spirited first 50 fly. On the last 25 (metres) she tired a bit and the lead shrunk before handing over to Ashley Yearwood to bring us home with the freestyle.“The frustration of losing a day of competition showed as Ashley attacked the race like never before and widened the margin on the way to the gold medal and a new National record. They finished with an impressive time of 4:32, crushing the old record of 4:35.32. Having Bermuda team manager Janice Irby present the medal to the girls made it even sweeter.”After rain and thunder and lightning delayed the start of the evening races, Stephanie Myles swam a good 400 metres freestyle to finish in fourth place while Andrew Beveridge finished fifth in his 400 freestyle final.Shannon Hassell was close to her PB from the morning race in the 400 metres free but was unable to close out against the older girls in the age group. Jesse Washington was also close to his morning PH but came up short against some very fast swimmers.“Lisa had another shot at a medal in the 50 breast and once again came through with flying colors as she won the gold!,” said a delighted Smith. “The 200 backstroke saw us have Rebecca Heyliger and Rebecca Sharpe in the final. Rebecca Heyliger swam well in an event that she does not normally compete in and was able to finish in fifth place while Rebecca Sharpe was able to capture her second bronze medal of the meet.”In the morning session on Thursday, Hassell and Washington had to qualify for their 400 metres freestyle finals and they both swam personal best times to get into the finals. Hassell broke Ashley Yearwood’s record of 4:51.40 by swimming a 4:50.79 time while Washington lowered his own record by swimming a 4:28.21 which beat his previous PB of 4:28.80.“Lisa continued her impressive form and swam the 50 breast in 34.81 which made her the number one seed for the finals,” said coach Smith. “Rebecca Sharpe, Rebecca Heyliger and Andrew all passed through to the finals without having to swim in the heats for the 200 back. Shannon Hassell was just outside her PB and was in the first alternate spot for the finals.”Bermuda Medals (9)Day 1: Lisa Blackburn (gold in 100m breaststroke, silver in 200 IM); Stephanie Myles (bronze in 800m freestyle); Shannon Hassell (silver in 100m backstroke).Day 2: Lisa Blackburn (gold in 200m breaststroke); Rebecca Sharpe (bronze in 100m backstroke).Day 3: Lisa Blackburn (gold in 200m butterfly).Day 4: Lisa Blackburn (gold in 50m breaststroke); 4x100m medley relay team (gold)