Nicola Queen Diamante and Paulene Beatrice Obebe expectedly torpedoed their respective rivals to share the limelight at the start of the Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (COPA) Reunion Swim Challenge 3rd leg Saturday at the Teofilo Ildefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Center in Malate, Manila.
The 11-year-old Diamante from RSS Dolphins Swim Club humbled the field in girls’ class A, winning the 50m butterfly in 34.72 seconds and the 50m freestyle in 31.69 to move within two wins of completing another quadruple-gold performance just like what she achieved in the second leg of the tournament last August.
Last month, Diamante shone brightest, topping seven events to emerge as the most successful campaigner in COPA’s Novice Swim Fest.
Againt a field that included students from public schools and several provincial teams, Obebe triumphed in the girls 12-yrs 50-m freestyle Class A (29.97) and 50-m butterfly (31.22) in this grassroots developmental tourney organized by COPA in partnership of Samahang Manlalangoy ng Pilipinas (SMP), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Speedo and MILO.
Diamante and Obebe try to sustain their winning runs as action resumes Sunday.
And the good news?
Tournament Director Chito Rivera said that aside from Diamante and Obebe, other participants made heads turn with impressive wins.
Other winners were Jane Therese Barbosa in girls 10-under 200m Individual Medley (3:21.62); Anod Jose Padre (boys 200m IM, 3:19:21); Kirsten Angel Escala (girls 11- 50m butter Class B, 40.44); Cathlene Joy Hergania (class C, 44.01); Veronika Ella Lumapas (girls 12, 50m butterfly, class B, 37.60); Joe Vanie Gonzales (class C, 42.97); Leatriz Balucating (girls 13 50m fly , class A, 33.07); Kyle Cruz (class B, 34.50); Maria Barreto (girls 14, 50m fly (class A, 30.44); Niki Atienza (class B, 33.72); Riana Santiago (class C, 38.20); Marie Estrella (girls 15, over 50m, fly, class A, 31.98); Ysabelle Aleazar (class B, 32.54); Ysabelle Abejero (class C, 36.43); Alrech Sarmiento (boys 11 50-m fly, class A, 34.86); Carlisle Vasquez (class B 39.91) and Clarenz Layos (class C, 43.90).
