QATAR-BASED Arvin Taguinato came up with a very fast time in the age-group swimming events in Day 1 of the Philippine Sports Commission-Philippine National Games/Batang Pinoy meet at the Teodoro Yldelfonso Swimming Pool here.
The 12-year-old Taguinato, who represents Pasig, came up with a time so fast, it was within range of a national record with his clocking of two minutes and 25.20 seconds in the 8-12 year old, 200-meter individual medley event.
Taguinato’s performance was much lower than what local swimmers submitted and it came within two seconds the Philippine mark of 2:22, which Jonathan Divinagracia hit way back in 1997 during a Kaohsiung event.
The clocking was 20 seconds ahead what Johan Pablo Gomez of Aklan submitted (2:45.74) for the silver and that of Ilocos Sur’s Allen Pico, who settled for the bronze in 2:46.44.
“Competition is harder in the Philippines, there’s not a lot of fast swimmers there (Qatar), but the swimmers here are very strong,” said Taguinato, a Grade 7 student from King’s College in Doha.
Taguinato, who started swimming at age six, arrived in the Philippines last week with his father who works for Qatar Energy. He will once again try his luck in the 100-meter backstroke, 50-meter backstroke, 100-meter butterfly, the 50-meter medley and freestyle relays, under the watchful eyes of Pasig head coach, multi-titled swimmer Jhessie King Lacuna and personal mentor Sherwin Santiago.
Earlier, veteran age grouper James Rey Ajido of Mandaluyong swam without the usual wetsuit after it got torn but still earned the gold medal in the 13-15 200-meter boys individual medley.
Ajido was one second off his personal best with his first-place finish of 2:15.30, with La Union’s Anton Della trailing in second (2:16.53), and with Aishel Evangelista (Caloocan City) in third with his time of 2:18.34.
Lucena’s Peter Cyrus Dean snared the gold medal in the 16-17 years, 200-m IM action, taking the gold in 2:16.66, while Mandaluyong’s John Ramores (2:18.85) and Jared Cuison of of Quezon City(2:19.82) were second and third respectively.
