Despite the tornado that delayed the official opening, the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games opened in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, yesterday with a number of Bahamians competing in swimming.

However, Alicia Lightbourne was the lone competitor who advanced out of the morning session into the final last night. She did it as the eighth and final qualifier in the women's 200m breastroke after she placed third in the last of three heats in a time of two minutes and 42.18 seconds.

Photo: Alicia Lightbourne Photo courtesy of The Tribune.

Her splits were recorded at 36.55 after the first 50, 1:18.10 through the 100 mark and 2:00.49 at the 150.

The fastest qualifier was Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson, who posted a record time of 2:33.64.

Olympian Elvis Burrows was 15th overall in the men's 100 free in a time of 52.82 after he had a split of 25.24 at the first turn at the 50. He was fifth in the fourth of five heats.

Another Bahamian, Inoa Charlton, also competed in the event. He was 29th with a fourth place in heat two. His split was 25.65 through the first turn. The fastest qualifying time was 50.91 by Cayman Island's Olympian Shaune Fraser.

The women's 400 free saw Jenna Chaplin clock 4:38.50 for 11th place overall. She was fourth in the first of three heats with times of 32.11 after the first 50, 1:06.71 at 100, 1:41.54 at 150, 2:16.54 at 200, 2:51.67 at 250, 3:27.08 at 300 and 4:03.15 at 350.

Mexico's Lilla Ibanez Lopez had the fastest qualifying time of 4:18.43.

The only other competitor to compete in yesterday's first session was Mancer Roberts in the men's 100 backstroke. His time of 1:02.77 with a split of 30.47 after the first 50 placed him 16th overall with a sixth place in the first of three heats.

Also in last night's final, the Bahamas was to have fielded a team for the women's 4 x 200 free relay. However, the list of competitors was not available. The Bahamas was to have competed in lane two between Dominica and Puerto Rico.

Today, in day two of the championships, another group of swimmers are expected back in the pool.

Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace was scheduled to compete first for the Bahamas in the women's 50 butterfly. She is entered in heat three in lane six. Atkinson is next to her in lane five. Also in the 50 fly is Alana Dillette, who will swim out of lane four in heat four.

In the women's 50 back, two more Bahamians are entered with Ariel Weech in lane one in heat two and Dillette returning for her second swim in lane five in heat three.

Vanderpool-Wallace will be the lone Bahamian in the women's 100 free. She will swim out of lane four in heat two.

And two competitors are entered in the men's 50 breast with Chadeau Wilson swimming in lane one in heat one and Michael McIntosh in heat two in lane two.

From all reports from Puerto Rico, the Bahamas wasn't affected at all by the tornado that hit Mayaguez. At least five people were injured with the collapse of the scaffolding and lights at the stadium.

The incident forced the delay of the opening ceremonies, which eventually took place albeit with the competition already underway in some sports.

The Bahamas is being represented in Puerto Rico at the games by teams in swimming, tennis, judo, boxing, sailing, bowling, rugby and track and field.

The chef de mission for the team is Dianne Miller, who made history as the first female to hold such a post. She nor any other team official was available for comment up to press time last night.

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