Rising star Sophia Rose Garra stole the spotlight from her more seasoned rivals after breaking two national age-group records in the Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) National Tryouts for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games over the weekend at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Center in Malate, Manila.
The 13-year-old protégé of Olympian backstroker Jenny Guerrero from the WaveRunners Swim Club clocked 1:06.50 in the girls’ 13-under 100-meter backstroke, eclipsing her own mark of 1:06.65 set last April at the Smart Juniors Nationals.
She accomplished the feat in a stacked field featuring Olympian Kayla Sanchez (1:02.38), Cambodia SEA Games champion Xiandi Chua (1:03.07), veteran Quendy Fernandez (1:03.23), 2023 SEAG gold medalist Teia Isabelle Salvino (1:03.85), and 2022 SEAG titlist Chloe Isleta (1:03.91) — all of whom surpassed the SEA Games qualifying standard of 1:05.17.
However, per SEA Games rules, only the top two finishers per country will make the team for Bangkok.
During Friday’s opening day, Garra also reset the girls’ 13-under 50m backstroke record with 30.70 seconds, smashing her previous mark of 31.00.
“Congratulations, Sophia Rose Garra, for breaking not just one, but two national age-group records! Your hard work, dedication, and passion for the sport are truly inspiring,” said PAI secretary general Eric Buhain.
Meanwhile, national mainstay Xiandi Chua reinforced her standing as the top local bet, winning the girls’ 200m individual medley in 2:18.38, ahead of US-based Isleta (2:21.87) and Shairinne Floriano (2:27.01), while also dipping under the QTS of 2:18.47.
Olympic relay medalist Sanchez and Fil-British swimmer Heather White both qualified in the girls’ 200m freestyle, clocking 2:01.41 and 2:05.40, respectively, way ahead of the 2:07.17 QTS. Sanchez also booked another slot in the 50m butterfly, placing second at 27.46 behind Fil-Am Miranda Cristina Renner (27.34). The event QTS is 27.69
In the men’s side, Fil-Am Gian Christopher Santos topped the boys’ 200m freestyle in 1:51.61, breaching the 1:51.74 QTS against locals Miguel Barreto (1:52.61) and Nathan Farrell Jao (1:52.70).
Filipino-Japanese Logan Wataru Noguchi also emerged as a strong contender, ruling the 50m butterfly in 24.30 and placing second in the 100m backstroke at 56.76 behind Fil-Canadian Joran Paul Orogo (56.67), both under QTS.
Other winners who missed the cut included Santos in the 200m IM (2:05.24), Renner in the 50m breaststroke (32.91), Kyla Louise Bulaga of La Union Swim Club in the 800m freestyle (9:44.17), and Rafael Isip of Ayala Harpoons in the 50m breaststroke (29.50).
