There was a gold medal and a competition record for Jamaica‘s Christanya Shirley on day one of the 2020 UANA Swimming Cup in Lima, Peru.
Shirley blazed to gold in the 11-12 girls 50 metre freestyle where she won the event in 28.45 seconds to lower the record of 28.77 set in 2018 by Perola Santoa of Brazil.
Jamaica’s other medal on the day came in the 15-17 girls 50 metre freestyle where Zanetta Alvaranga won silver after placing second in 26.56 seconds.
Compatriot Gabrianna Banks (27.36s) was seventh with the event going to Susana Hernandez Barradas of Mexico (26.27s) and bronze going to Chloe Farro of Aruba in 26.74 seconds.
Meanwhile, Kokolo Foster (29.79s) and Brooke Hopkins (30.18s) who contested the 13-14 division were just outside their personal best times finishing 34th and 36th overall out of 50 swimmers
Earlier, Hopkins (2:51.81) and Foster (2:43.16) competed in the 13-14 girls 200 metre individual medley where they finished 38th and 29th overall.
Action in the 15-17 division saw Alvaranga copping a third place finish in her heats in a new personal best 2:38.87 seconds.
The girls will contest the 100m Butterfly (Shirley, Alvaranga and Banks), 50m Breaststroke (Foster, Hopkins, Alvaranga and Banks). Alvaranga will be the lone 100m Backstroke entry for Jamaica.