Potter, Carey Continue to Lower Times Through
Kyla M. Potter and Lily A. Carey have continued to produce strong performances for the British Virgin Islands at the 5th PanAm Aquatics Swimming Championships in Ibagué, Colombia, recording multiple personal bests and large time improvements through Day 3 of competition. An update from Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) reports both swimmers added solid 50m breaststroke swims on Day 3, building on PBs set on Day 1 and Day 2 as they prepare for the final days of the meet (July 11–12).
Carey continued to shine for the British Virgin Islands at the 5th PanAm Aquatics Swimming Championships in Ibagué, Colombia, producing multiple personal bests and time improvements across the first three days of competition. Team BVI arrived in Ibagué after two days of altitude training to help acclimate to the thinner air, a challenge Coach Rebecca M.
In addition to pool sessions, Nockolds and the athletes attended a PanAm Aquatics clinic on nutrition and fueling strategies for training and competition — guidance the coach credited with helping the swimmers recover and manage energy across consecutive races. On Day 1 the pair set a positive tone in the Girls 13–15 100m Breaststroke.
Carey posted a new personal best of 1:36.97, shaving 2.44 seconds off her entry time, while Kyla M. Potter recorded a solid 1:39.87 in the same heat, demonstrating composure and race execution against strong age-group competition from across the Americas. In the Girls 13–15 50m Backstroke Potter lowered her time to 36.35, trimming 2.72 seconds from her entry mark, while Carey touched in 40.37, improving by 3.26 seconds.
Both athletes recovered quickly between events and turned in strong 200m Freestyle swims: Potter produced an impressive personal best of 2:40.24 — a 10.48-second improvement — and Carey set a new best at 2:43.08, improving by 5.46 seconds. After the Day 2 finals, Coach Nockolds praised the duo’s consistency and preparation: "Overall, it was a very successful day for Team BVI, with both athletes achieving great time improvements in both events.
Today, their ability to perform consistently despite the demands of the back-to-back races shows their preparation and determination throughout the meet." According to an update from Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), the positive trend continued on Day 3. Later in the session both athletes returned to the pool for the Girls 13–15 50m Breaststroke, where Potter posted a time of 42.62 — improving her entry time by 2.65 seconds — and Carey finished in 43.53, lowering her entry time by 1.80 seconds.
VINO reported that Day 3 was another successful day for Team BVI, with both swimmers continuing to improve on their entry times and gain valuable international experience. The championships run from July 8–12, and VINO noted Potter and Carey will compete in the final two days of competition on Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, 2026.
For BVI residents, the pair’s steady improvements underline the value of targeted preparation, international exposure and the territory’s growing age-group swimming programme.
Primary source: VINO