Asian junior record holder Jamesrey Mishael Ajido and multi-titled Mishka Sy, as expected, made a splash in the opening day of the Philippine Aquatics, inc. (PAI) National Age Group Championships, ruling their respective events on Friday, June 21 at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool in Malate, Manila.
Yet to fully recover from a left shoulder injury he sustained last month, the 15-year-old Ajido powered through and claimed the boys’ 15-class A 200-meter freestyle crown while Sy became the meet’s first double gold winner after topping the girls 17-over Class A 400-m Individual Medley and 200-m freestyle.
Ajido clocked two minutes and 42 seconds to beat Ashton Clyde Jose of Leviathan Swim Club (2:07.63) and Zoilo Larrazabal of Rising Atlantis (2:08.00).
“Iniinda pa rin niya yung injury sa kaliwang balikat, kahit medyo mahaba na rin ang ipinahinga niya after the ASEAN School tryouts. Minabuti na niyang lumangoy para makita na rin yun extent ng progress ng kanyang therapy and preparation na rin for the National tryouts sa August,” said Love Ajido, mother of Jamesrey who delivered the country’s first-ever gold in the continental level after ruling the 100m butterfly in the 11th Asian Group Championships.
Sy, likewise, stamped his class and recorded 5:17.43 mins in the 400-m Individual Medley – a far cry to rivals Aubrey Tom (5:37.51) and Dianna Cruz (5:37.58). She also timed 2:13.14 mins to beat fellow junior standout Camille Buico of Rising Atlantis (2:16.61) and Atasha Dela Torre (2:20.63) in freestyle.
Other winners included Asian campaigner Kyla Louise Bulaga in girls 14 class A 200m freestyle (2:18.02), siblings Mikhael Jaspe Mojdeh and Behrouz Mohammad Mojdeh of Behrouz Elite team in the boys 9 class A 200m freestyle (2:45.76) and boys 13 class A 400m IM (5:12.65), respectively. Yzac Valencia in the biys 10 Class A 200m freestyle (2;43.07) and Pia Ato of One Ilocos Sur in the girls 14 Class B 400, IM (6:02.10).
