Homegrown bets from Kidapawan Long Wave Swim Team and DavNor Blu Marlins Swim Team shared the limelight in the Mindanao leg of the 2022 FINIS Short Course Swim Series recently at the Davao del Sur Olympic pool at the newly constructed Governor Douglas RA Cagas Sports, Cultural and Business Complex in Matti.
Kidapawan and DavNor swimmers made their presence felt with victories in the two-day event serving as qualifying for the National Finals slated August 20 and 21 at the New Clark Swimming Pool in Tarlac.
“We’re very happy with the turnout. Over 100 teams have joined in the final leg of the series as slots for the National Finals are at stake. Natuwa rin sila sa program natin. I’m extending my heartfelt gratitude to the host province and officials, led by Davao del Sur Gov. Yvonne Rona-Cagas,” said FINIS Philippines Managing Director Vince Garcia.
“FINIS is here to help uplift not only swimming, but other aquatics events, including tournaments, which involve our para athletes. For the past decade, FINIS and on my own personal capacity, support the development of our athletes with disabilities,” said Garcia.
From Mindanao, Garcia travelled to Legazpi in Bicol to supervise the participation of the 10-member Todo Paratriathlon Team in the Mt. Mayon Triathlon this weekend. Garcia has been sponsoring the team since the tournament’s inception in 2015.
The Mindanao leg is the centerpiece of the FINIS-organized Davao Del Sur Aquatics Challenge this month as the province also plays host to the FINIS Passig Islet 5K Open Water Swim Challenge on August 27 and the Kids of Steel Triathlon Finis Green Aquathlon (kids and adults) on August 28 in Digos City.
Garcia said the top 16 swimmers in each event in the Mindanao leg will compete in the national finals, where bigger prizes await, including a training package for athletes, who can erase a national record.
Among young swimmers, who claimed tickets to the Clark meet were Kail Kahulugan in the boys’ 6-under 100-m IM (2:25.16); Jacob Ansale in the boys’ 7-8 IM (1:58.24); Leonard Odelle Narreto in the boys’ 9-10 IM (1:28.33); Teofh Velez in the girls’ 7-8 100-m IM; Czarina Cavite in the girls’ 9-10 IM (1:20.00); Shan Cyril Luga in the girls’ 11-12 IM (1:21.00); Anthony Acedo in the boys’ 11-12 IM (1:26.34).
Other winners were Ethan Bazylewich in the boys’ 13-14 IM (1:09.90); Rain Andrei Tumulac in the boys’ 15-16 IM (1:02.90); JohnBem Batalla in the boys’ 15-16 IM (1:17,00); Hansel Sarayan, 17-18 IM (1:09.00); Kate Ytang in the girls’ 11-12 IM (1:17.00); Jahred Carlos Basan in boys’ 9-10 100-m backstroke (2:25.00); and Zavrinah Pailagao in the girls’ 7-8 (2:22.97).
