By MARK REY MONTEJO
Veteran Jamesray Mischael Ajido impressed as expected by winning three gold medals in the Speedo Sprint Met at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila Sunday, July 21.
Ajido, a 15-year-old Grade 10 student at De La Salle Greenhills, dominated the boys’ 100-meter individual medley (59.74 seconds), 50m backstroke (27.73sec) and 50m butterfly (25.10sec) in the competition organized by Speedo, sanctioned by the Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
“Nagpapasalamat po ako kay Lord at totally healed na yung injury ko sa kaliwang balikat. Tuloy naman po ang ensayo at maganda ang kondisyon ko,” said Ajido, who is looking forward to the National tryouts next month.
Meanwhile, Jerard Dominic Jacinto stamped his class in the 50m backstroke with a time of 25.45sec, beating his STW Royals teammate Ryan Belenag (26.98sec) and Raven Henry (27.99sec) of Betta Caloocan.
He snatched his first gold in the 50m butterfly after clocking 24.82sec.
The tournament serves as a preparation for the youth swimmers for the National trials slated Aug. 15-18 (long course) and Aug. 20-23 (short course) at the same venue.
It will also serve as a selection process for the Philippines when it vies for the 46th Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships in December, as well as for the 55th Singapore National Age Group, the 6th Malaysian Open Swimming, and the World Aquatics short course series also are set next year.
