ASIAN Games veterans Chloe Isleta and Xiandi Chua showed their might and torpedoed their rivals at the close of the Philippine Aquatics-organized National Tryouts on Sunday, Oct. 15, at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) in Malate Manila.
Isleta, 25, captured four gold medals, while Chua, 24, won two in the three-day meet that attracted the country’s best swimmers and foreign-based athletes.
Not to be left out were top junior swimmers Michaela Jasmine Mojdeh, Heather White, and Jamesray Ajido who likewise emerged multiple-gold winners.
With their impressive wins, Isleta, Chua and company are all likely to be considered for the 44-man Philippine team that will compete in the 11th Asian Age Group Championships slated Dec. 3-6 at the New Clark Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac.
Isleta, carrying the banner of One Ilocos Sur Swim Team, topped the girls 18-over 100m backstroke (1:04.04), 100m freestyle (56.86), 200m freestyle (2:04.57) and 200m Individual medley (2:18.06).
Chua was untouchable in the girls 18-over 50m back (30.20), and 50m free (26.06).
“We’re happy to see them joining the tryouts. Umuwi sila mula sa US training para ipinakita nila rito ang kahalagahan ng slots sa national team na kailangang mong paghirapan at hindi maaaring makuha dahil seeded ka na. Itong palakasan system at turuan sa pagpili ng mga atleta ang inaalis namin ni President Miko Vargas,” said Philippine Aquatics, Inc. Secretary General and Batangas 1st District Representative Eric Buhain.
The 14-year-old Ajido dominated the boys 12-14 200m back (2:15.76), 100m butterfly (57.12), 200m free (2:02.68), 200m IM (2:16.01), 50m back (28.90), 200m fly (2:15.22), and 50m free (24.91),
White, who lost to another promising 14-year-old Trixie Ortiguerra in the girls 15-17 50m back on Day 2, bounced back by winning the 50m free (27.78) against the pride of Tarlac who submitted a timed of 27.78. The Vietnam-based White also won the 100m fly (1:03.48), and 200m free (2:07.75).
Mojdeh, a semifinalist in 2022 World in Lima, Peru, reigned in the girls 15-17 200m fly (2:18.50), and 200m Im (2:25.52).
Other junior tankers who claimed ‘provisionary’ status are Miguel Barreto in the boys 18-over 200m free (1:54.02), Kyla Louise Bulaga in the girls 12-14 200m IM (2:16.01), and 400m free (4:26.06), Arabella Taguinota in the girls 15-17 100m breaststroke (1:13.40), Chantelle Coleman in the girls 12-14 100m breast (1:19.82) and 50m breast (35.24), Kyla Louise Bulaga in the girls 12-14 200m Im (2:35.10), Joshua Ramos in the Boys 18 & Over 50m back (27.79);
Peter Cyrus Dean in the boys 15-17 50m (27.74), Kacie Gabrielle Tionko in the girls 15-17 800m freestyle (10:03.51); Philip Santos in the boys 18-over 400m Im (4:52.68); Mishka Sy in the girls 18-over 400 IM (5:18.59); Patricia Santor in the girls 400m IM (5:19.23); Aishel Evangelista boys 12-14 400m IM (4:26.06), Thanya Dela Cruz girls 18-over 50m breast (31.83) and Ashton Clyde Jose in the boys 12-14 50m breast (32.57).
