UNHERALDED local bets Billie Blu Mondonedo, Maxene Hayley Uy, Sophie Rose Garra, and Liv Abigail Florendo stole the thunder from their more illustrious homegrown and Filipino-foreign breed competitors on Sunday at the close of the Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) 50-meter long course National Trials at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool in Malate, Manila.
The 17-year-old Mondonedo, a US-born Filipino currently training with the FTW Royals Swim Club, solidified her place on the Philippine Team with an astonishing performance in the girls’ 16-18 100-meter freestyle, clocking 56.64 seconds and shattering the SEA Age Qualifying Time Standard (QTS) of 58.41.
The Sandpiper Nevada-trained Fil-American surpassed her teammate Arabella Nadeen Taguinota (1:01.13) and Asian Age Group Championship campaigner Trixie Ortiguerra of Tarlac Mako (1:01.62) to claim her third QTS gold medal in the event, which served as a selection for the Philippine Team competing in international tournaments, including the SEA Age Group tilt in December in Bangkok, Thailand.
Mondonedo completed her freestyle dominance with victories in the 50-meter (26.48), surpassing the QTS of 27.05, and the 200-meter (2:08.34), eclipsing the 2:09.09 standard time.
The four-day event was backed by Speedo, Pocari Sweat, and the Philippine Sports Commission.
“It’s a dream come true. One at a time, until I reach my goal to compete in a high-level competition, hopefully the Olympics in the future,” said Mondonedo.
Also shining brightly among the local hopefuls were Uy, Garra, and Florendo, who secured their spots in the training pool with impressive performances in their respective classes after struggling in the first three days of competition.
The 15-year-old Uy of the NOGCC Team topped the girls’ 14-15 50-meter backstroke, clocking 31.15 seconds to surpass the 31.36 QTS. Garra secured her place on the team by breaking the QTS of 1:09.52 in the girls’ 11-13 100-meter back with a time of 1:08.98. Florendo emerged as a standout in the girls’ 11-13 200-meter butterfly, shattering the QTS (1:09.52) with a time of 1:08.98.
“We’re happy to see some unfamiliar names breaking the standard time in the Trials. This only proves that PAI swimming club members are seriously adopting the training program we crafted and distributed throughout our regional areas. We will review the results to see if we can include other gold medalists without QTS but with great potential,” said PAI Secretary-General and Batangas 1st District Congressman Eric Buhain.
Filipino-American Gian Santos swept all five events, breaking the QTS in each, after winning the boys’ 16-18 100-meter freestyle at 50.70, nearly three seconds faster than the 53.01 QTS. The incoming freshman at Columbian University in New York also broke QTS in the 400-meter free (4:07.74), 200-meter IM (2:11.87), 200-meter free (1:55.45), and 200-meter breast (2:22.78).
Homegrown star Jamesray Ajido became the most decorated swimmer, collecting seven gold medals and achieving two QTS performances. He concluded his campaign with victory in the boys’ 14-15 100-meter free (54.32). The Asian Age Group gold medal winner also triumphed in the 50-meter backstroke (28.57), 200-meter freestyle (2:02.35), and 100-meter butterfly (56.25), breaking the QTS (57.47). He matched the QTS in the 50-meter free (24.64), 100-meter backstroke (1:01.01), and 200-meter Individual Medley (2:12.57).
