Davao City—Xiandi Chua produced two record-breaking feats in her bid to become one of the most be-medalled athletes in the 2019 Palarong Pambansa at the University of the Philippines-Davao Aquatics Center in Mintal here Wednesday.
The 15-year-old Chua, a 12th grader from Immaculate Conception Academy in San Juan, outpaced Jasmine Micaela Mojdeh in the 200-meter individual, finishing in 2:23.86 and breaking the 21-year-old Palaro record of Althea Lim (2:25.66).
Mojdeh went on to settle for her second silver after she came in almost seven seconds later in 2:30.11.
A year-old mark in the 200-meter freestyle was also erased after Chua outpaced Rose Encarnacion of Calabarzon in 2:43.08, better than the 2:46.36 which Thangchylyn dela Cruz submitted last year.
“She (Chua) is a very experienced a swimmer. Hinataw niya. She swam fast and her strokes were efficient,” said Chua’s coach Marichi Gandionco, a record-holder herself in the 200-m Individual Medley when she was at Xiandi’s age.
The 12-year-old Mojdeh, who is struggling to hold her own against older rivals on her first year in the secondary girls’ division, however, was at her best in the secondary girls’ 200-meter butterfly, where she submitted a time of two minutes, 22.69 seconds, to surpass the five-year-old course mark of Suzanne Himor (2:25.21).
It was her first gold medal in three events after settling for two silvers in the swimming meet.
“We were expecting that she breaks this record,” said Mojdeh’s coach Alex Papa.
Mojdeh, an eighth grader at the Immaculate Heart of Mary College in Paranaque, beat National Capital Region teammate Althea Baluyot, who was three seconds slower, but also broke the course record as well in 2:25.09.
Mojdeh had been unlucky so far in quest for glory in the secondary level, after falling to heavily favored Chua on her third event in the weeklong meet.
Jordan Lobos (Calabarzon) also broke a year-old record in the secondary boys’ 200-meter breaststroke in 2:26.77, while Ateneo bet Philip Santos(NCR) smashed his own mark in the 200-meter IM in 2:12.58.
In athletics, Tarlac bet Jerry Vasquez and Pangasinan standout Brian Celeste shattered records in the secondary boys’ 3000-meter steeplechase and the high jump over at the University of Mindanao-Matina oval.
Vasquez clocked 9:35.20 and eclipsed Cagayan Valley bet Crisanto Canillo’s 9:41.70, with Ritchie Estampador (Region 6) and Jasper Delfin (Region 5) taking the silver and bronze, respectively.
The Central Luzon squad of Trixie Ortiguerra, Jasmine de la Cruz, Francesca Sarmiento and Riza Tabamo took down the six-year-old record in elementary girls’ 4×50 meter medley relay in swimming with a time of 2:13.41.
In archery, Crisha Mae Merto towed Region 7 to four gold medals in secondary girls’ archery, and after she topped the 30-meter, 50-meter and the 60-meter distances. She also ruled the single FITA event with a total of 1310 points.
In secondary chess, Southern Tagalog swept all four golds in blitz action after Daniel Quizon earned two golds for Region IV-A in the individual blitz and team event. Kylen Mordido took the other two in the distaff side.
In football, Southern Tagalog emerged unbeaten after three games, following their 2-1 win over Davao.
In futsal, Central Visayas held its ground with a 4-0 win over Western Visayas.
