NATIONAL junior record holder in boys’ 13-under Jamesray Mishael Ajido and Patricia Mae Santor dominated their respective classes, winning three gold medal each to power Team Ilustre East Aquatic to a whopping 21-gold medal haul at the start of Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc. – Golden Goggle 3rd and 4th legs on Saturday at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
Ajido, the country’s newest homegrown swimming phenom after winning two gold medals in the ASEAN junior championship last month, as expected, outswam his rivals in the boys’ 14-yrs old 100-m freestyle, clocking 57.51 seconds, over three seconds ahead of silver winner Ashton Jose of Leviathan Swim Club (1:00.23).
Ajido repeated over Jose (28.66) in their 50-m butterfly duel with a time of 26.51, before the Grade 7 student from Montessori Integrated School-Antipolo anchored his team, which included Maria Barreto, Ivoh Gantala and Santor, to victory in the mixed 400m medley relay.
“Masayang masaya po dahil ‘yung mga ginawa namin sa training ni coach Ramil (Ilustre), talagang nagawa namin. Mas napabilis ko ‘yung time ko. Hopefully po, mas mabilis na time ang magawa sa second day ng tournament,” said Ajido, who broke two junior records in the 50m butterfly (27.18) and 200m backstroke (2:20.38) during last year’s Philippine National Age Group Swimming Championship.
Meanwhile, Santor won the gold in the girls’ 15-yrs 200-m breaststroke, clocking 2:57.80 against Rhetz Andaya of Golden Flippers (2:59.78) and teammate Alyssa Cabatian (3:08.03).
She added a mint in the 50-m butterfly (30:46) over Baby Pagurayan (34.43) and Cabatian (34.64) and in the 100-m freestyle (1:06.02) against Riana Santiago of Marikina swim (1:07.33) and Cabatian (1:08.39).
Other gold-medal winners for team Ilustre were Cyrus Boletche in the boys’ 17-yrs 50m butterfly (30.03); David Tristan Reyes in the boys’ 10-yrs 100-m backstroke (1:35.82); Isla Solis in the girls’ 7-yrs 200-m back (2:10.18), 50m fly (1:08.62) and 100m free (2:01.61); Yoanna Bersamin in the girls’ 13-yrs 100m free (1:10.85); Jada Cruz in the girls’ 14-yrs 100m free (1:06.89); Rio Balbuena in the girls’ 17-yrs 100m free (1:06.99), 200m breast (3:04.07); Maria Barreto in the girls’ 16-yrs 50m free (31.73); David Reyes in the boys’ 10-yrs 50m butterfly (40.93), 100m free (1:26.66); and Christoff Boleche in the boys’ 13-yrs 300m breast (3:05.04);
COPA vice president and tournament director Chito Rivera said action in bifin swimming and the participation of para athletes highlighted the second day of the tournament, powered by Speedo and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and MILO.