Jamaica's senior national swimmers, including Kendese Nangle, Alexia Royal-Eatmon and Dominic Walter, head a 16-member delegation that left the island yesterday to participate in the 2009 Daytona Beach Invitational Swim scheduled for January 24-25.

The swimmers, all of whom are ranked in the Top Five in varying events in their age group, will make the journey for the first time to the games hosted by the Port Orange YMCA in Florida.

The aim of the meet, according to technical director Jackie Walter, is to expose more swimmers to overseas competitions, as well as to prepare the national swimmers for upcoming international competitions.

"This is a chance for some of the swimmers who attended the Christmas training camp we had in December to see where they are in terms of their performances," said Walter, who will accompany the team. "Many of these swimmers are also hopefuls for Carifta Championships this year."

The swimmers are expected to go up against eight teams from within the Florida area. Team members are Dania Banks, Nicolai Johnson, Alexandra Beckford, Kendese Nangle, Jason-Craig Burnett, Abegail Quest, Kevaughn Campbell, Alexia Royal-Eatmon, Ivana Chang, Courteney Taylor, Octivia Gray,Dominic Walter, Justin James, Stefani Webley, Shaun James and Sidrell Williams. They are expected to return to the island on Monday, January 26.