Homegrown bigshots made their presence felt to steal the limelight from foreign-breed Filipinos trying to make it to the National Team on the second day of action in the Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) National Trials for long course (50-meter) at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool inside the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC).
National junior record holders and multi-titlist Jamesrey Ajido and Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh powered the locals show winning multiple gold medals in their respective classes to overshadow the reign of Filipino-foreign swimmers based abroad led by Paris Olympic bet Jarold Hatch.
The 15-year Ajido, a gold medalist in the Asian Age Group Championships last February at the New Clark City, broke the Southeast Asian Age Group Qualifying Time Standard (QTS) in the boys 14-15 100-m butterfly (57.47), clocking 56.25, while matching the QTS (24.64) in the 50-meter freestyle for a total four gold medal haul in the event used as selection for members of the National pool and backed by Speedo, Pocari Sweat, and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Ajido from FTW Royals Swim beat Rodevic Gonzalvo (59.33) and Kristian Cabana (1:00.08) in the 100-m fly, then edging out rivals Jet Berueda (25.68) and Elijah Ebayan (25.87) in the 50-m free.
“Medyo nagulat ako sa performance ko kasi kumpara po kahapon, pakiramdam ko wala ako sa kondisyon today. Siguro po excited ako sa opening day kaya di ko na-break yung QTS sa dalawang event ko,” said the Grade 9 student at the La Salle Greenhills referring to his non-QTS two gold performance in the opening day.
The veteran SEA Age Championships medalist won the boys 14-15 100-m backstroke (1:01.01) and 200-m Individual Medley (2:12.57) in the afternoon session on Thursday’s opening.
Likewise, Mojdeh, a semifinalist in the World Junior Championships last year in Israel, made sure her name will be included in the Ph training pool as she won the girls 16-18 200m breaststroke against Reiko Uy (2:47.50) and Sealtiel Daiz 92:48.45), clocking 2:40.27 to break the QTS (2:40.42).
“Got a lot of catching up in my training, medyo feeling ko hindi gaanong ready yung katawan ko sa training, but I’m good it’s a good swim and happy for the results,” said Mojdeh, dubbed ‘The Water Beast’, in a fitting followed up on her victory in the 200-m IM (2:26.16) on Thursday.
Fil-American Riannah Chantelle Coleman, a scholar at the National Sports Academy (NAS) in Tarlac, continued to wow the crowd as the 15-year-old beauty dominated the girls 14-15 200-m breast with a time of 2:43.55 for another QTS performance (2:45.54). She beat Krystal David and Asian Age Group Championships campaigner Kyla Louise Bulaga (2:50.63).
Coleman, competing under the Dax Halili Swim Club, broke the 33.98 QTS for girls 14-15 50-meter breaststroke with a winning time of 33.96 on Thursday.
Sharing the Day 2 limelight are Filipino-American Gian Santos and Miranda Cristina Renner, Fil-Mongolian Enkhmend Enkhmend, and Fil-British Jarold Hatch. The California-based Santos claimed her second QTS (2:22.78) winning the boys 16-18 200-m breast clocking at 2:18.30, Enkmend delivered in the 14-15 class at 2:24.19 (2:24.49). At the same time, Renner topped the girls 19-over 50-m free (26.26), and Hatch, the Paris Olympian edged out fellow Fil-British rival Charles Belloti (24.06) in the boys 19-over 50-free, clocking 23.86.
Other gold medalist in Day 2 are Behrouz Mohammad Mojdeh in boys 11-12 200-m breaststroke (2:42.50); Lucio Cuyong (19-over, 2:23.29); Sophia Rose Garra in the girls 11-13 200-m breast (2:51.46); Shairinne Floriano (19-over, 2:43.65), Richard Navo in the boys 11-13 50-m freestyle (26.82); Anika Kathryn Matiling in the girls 11-13 50-m free (29.12); Paulene Beatrice Obebe (14-15, 28.78); Miranda Cristine Renner (19-over, 26.26); Arvin Naeem Taguinota in the boys 11-13 100-m butterfly (1:03,88); Joshua Ang (19-over, 54.38); Liv Abigail Florendo in the girls 11-13 100-m fly (1:08.27); Kyla Bulaga (14-15, 1:08.37); Shairinne Floriano (19-over, 1:04.13);
Arvin Naeem Taguinota II in the boys 11-13 100-m backstroke (1:04.77); Joshua Pak (19-over, 59.66); Maxene Uy in the girls 14-15 100-back (1:08.52); Trixie Ortiguera (16-18, 1:08.55); Mishka Sy (19-over, 1:07.24); Arvin Taguinota in the boys 11-13 200 IM (2:23.38); Jaeddan Patrick Gamilla and Kyle Gerard Valdez (19-over, tied at 2:07.59); Sophia Rose Garra in the girls 11-13 200-m IM (2:34.53); Kyla Louise Bulaga (14-15, 2:33.44); Shairinne Floriano (19-over, 2:27.67)
