Young swimmers Jean Richeane Dela Cruz and Rhiana Kaydee Nialla captured three gold medals in their respective age-groups, while Aldrin Alinea topped two events as they were awarded the most outstanding swimmers on Saturday in the 2024 Speedo Novice and Sprint Meet at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
The 15-year-old Dela Cruz, a protégé of the Atlantean Dolphin Swim Team, collected the mint in the girls’ 15-yrs 25-meter backstroke (18.58), 25m butterfly (18.06) and 100m freestyle (1:20.16).
Dela Cruz beat Trinity Uy of Betta Caloocan (23.60) and Nhicka Regalado of Atlantean (24.26) in the backstroke; then overpowered Regalado (21.82) and Uy (24.92) in the fly before completing her domination with victory in the freestyle against Regalado (1:37.14) and Uy (1:39.85).
For her part, Nialla, 14, of Torpedo Swim triumphed in the girls’ 14-yrs class of the very same event, clocking 22.66, 20.44, and 1:29.09, respectively, in the meet organized by Speedo and sanctioned by the Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) with the support of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Nialla outpaced Shyvonne Mangonon of Torpeedo (24.47) and Gabrielle Kristen Suarez of Atlantean (27.92) in the back; then outsprinted Amor Maniquis of Coach Roy Swim (24.31) and Mangonon (26.85) in the fly and defeated Maniquis (1:50.88) and Mangonon (2:05.05) in the free.
The 10-year-old Alinea of RSS Dolphins dominated the boys’ 10-yrs class 100m freestyle (1:40.14), and 25m butterfly (26.68).
“We’re happy with the numbers of participants coming from different swimming clubs in the National Capital Region (NCR). Nagpapakita ito ng tunay na pagpapahalaga ng ating mga miyembro na palakasin ang kanilang mga programa from conducting summer camps and clinics, then to competitive competitions up to elite level,” said PAI Secretary-General Batangas 1st District Rep. Eric Buhain.
The two-time Olympian and Philippine Sports Hall-of-Famer also challenged the club coaches to double their efforts in preparing their swimmers for the coming two national tryouts slated on August 15 to 18 (long course) and August 20 to 23 (short course) at the RSMC venue.
The long course trials will be used for the selection of members for the Philippine Team set to participate in the 46th Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships, the 55th Singapore National Age Group and the 6th Malaysian Open Swimming both scheduled next year, while the short course trials will be the basis for the composition of the nationals to the World Aquatics short course series.
