Reagan Uszenski did not compete in the Paris Olympics, but this budding 12-year-old swimmer had a summer to remember in the pool, winning four gold medals, four silver medals, and one bronze in two international aquatic events.
Uszenski’s first swim meet was at the XXXVI Central American and Caribbean Swimming Federation (CCCAN) Championships in Monterrey, Mexico, June 17 – 23. This promising young star from the United States Virgin Islands, ISV, at international competitions, captured three gold medals and one silver. Uszenski won the 100-meter freestyle in a time of 1:02.19. She also finished first in the 200-meter free, posting a time of 2:15.84. Her performance during the 400-meter freestyle had the entire arena on their feet as Uszenski trailed the leader by at least two body lengths before she powered past the leader to claim this gold medal in dramatic fashion. Her time was 4:46.93. Uszenski’s silver medal came in the 50-meter freestyle, where she clocked an impressive 28.20.
Max Wilson also won two gold medals and Adriel Sanes captured three bronze medals for ISV at this event.
The second event that Uszenski competed in this summer was the Pan Am Aquatics Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aug. 22-25. The meet was broken down into three sections, according to Reagan’s coach, John Vasbinder, “The meet was broken up into three age groups, 14 and under, 15-18, 19 and over. Reagan had to swim in the 14 and under as a 12-year-old. She set three VI records as a twelve-year-old, but in the meet, she got three silvers and one bronze competing against 14-year-olds.”
The 11/12 records that Uszenski broke were the 50-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter freestyles. The old record in the 50-meter free was 28.53, and her time was 27.52; the former 100-meter free record was 1:01.97, and her time was 1:01.63. Uszenski’s time in the 200-meter free was 2:15.53, .03 faster than the previous fastest time.
Uszenski finished second in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter freestyle at this event and third place in the 50-meter free.
Zoin Jn Baptiste also won two gold medals at this event. The 14-year-old won the 100-meter backstroke and 200-meter backstroke races.
Allison Joseph also medaled for ISV as she earned two bronze medals. Her first was in the 400-meter freestyle in the 15-18 division. She also finished third in the 200-meter backstroke.
Nicholas Crikelair competed well in the 200-meter breaststroke, claiming second in the 15-18 male division.
Diella Maynard also swam away with hardware as she took home the bronze medal in the 1500-meter freestyle race.
The next major event for ISV swimmers will be on Nov. 1-3, at the St. Thomas Swimming Association’s Pool in Red Hook.
