Jamesray Ajido and Trixie Ortiguera swept their events in their respective age-division and won the Most Outstanding Swimmers (MOS) awards in the Luzon leg of the 2022 FINIS Long Course Swimming Championships held over the weekend at the New Clark Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac.
Tipped as the country’s top medal hopeful in the SEA Age Group Championships on Dec. 17-19 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Ajido reigned in the boys 13-14 class by topping the 50m butterfly (26.52), 100-m fly (58.13), 50-m backstroke (29.20) and 100m-back (1:03.48) – all in record fashion.
The 13-year-old Ajido, who is the latest FINIS Brand Ambassador, bettered his previous best in 50-m fly (26.95), 100-m Fly (58.82), 50m back (29.60), and 100-m back (1:03.28).
“Every tournament po yung focus ko ma-improved ko yung personal best at record ko. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa mga tumutulong sa akin, sa aking parents na laging nakasubaybay sa aking training. Sa Kuala Lumpur pilitin kong mas makakuha ng mas mababang time,” said the pride of Golden Zoomers Swim Club.
FINIS Philippines Managing Director Vince Garcia said Ajido’s four-gold romp was the result of his discipline, time management and patience in training.
“We expect him to become the country’s future in swimming,” he added.
Ajido was also dominant in five other events – 50m breaststroke (33.62), 100m Freestyle (57.82), 50m free (26.23), 200m Individual Medley (2:17.81), 100m breaststroke (1:13.22).
Ortiguera, 15, the pride of Tarlac Aquatics Swim Club, emerged champion in the Girls 15-16 class after beating her rivals in the 100m Freestyle (1:02.71), 100m Back (1:10.36), 50m Free (28.74), 50m breast (39.75), 50m fly (30.71), 200m Individual Medley (2:39.71), 100m fly (1:12.54), 50m back (31.97), 100m breast (1:29.48).
Ajido’s teammates in Golden Zoomers and fellow FINIS Ambassadors National mainstay Kyla Soguilon and Marcus DeKam also shone in their respective age group class.
The pride of Malay, Aklan, the 18-yrs-old Soguilon grabbed the gold in the Girls 17-18 100m Back (1:12.37), 50m fly (31.40), 50m free (29.18), 200m IM (2:44.01), 100m fly (1:12.18), 50m breast (37.58), and 100m free (1:04.58).
She finished second to Jan Sarmiento of Joey Andaya Swim Team (32.86) with a time of 33.31 and claimed the bronze in the 100m breast (1:28.52).
The 17-yrs old DeKam, a product of Swim League Philippines (SLP), dominated the Boys 17-18 50m fly (26.23), 200m IM (2:15.47), 50m back (28.48), ND 50m free (24.75).
In the 19-over class, Jarrett Dean Henthorne become the first special child to win in the FINIS-organized event.
The 19-yrs old who has a Moderate Autism with Severe mental/intellectual Disability won eight silver medals – 200m IM (4:52.98), 100m fly (1:16.43), 50m back (36.01), 100m breast (1:30.15), 50m free (28.88), 50m fly (30.97), 100m back (1:22.61) 50m breast (39.02).
Garcia said all top swimmers in the Luzon leg are qualified to the National Finals on Dec. 17-18 also in Clark. They swim off with the best from the Visayas and Mindanao leg of the series.
