HOMEGROWN swimming stars stole the limelight from their foreign-born counterparts on the second day of the Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) National Trials for long course (50-meters) at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC).
National junior record holders and multi-titled athletes Jamesrey Ajido and Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh led the local charge, winning multiple gold medals in their respective divisions and overshadowing the Filipino-foreign swimmers, including Paris Olympics veteran Jarold Hatch.
The 15-year-old Ajido, a gold medalist at the Asian Age Group Championships last February in New Clark City, shattered the Southeast Asian Age Group Qualifying Time Standard (QTS) in the boys’ 14-15 100-meter butterfly (57.47), clocking 56.25.
He also matched the QTS (24.64) in the 50-meter freestyle, securing a total of four gold medals in the event used to select members of the national swimming pool.
The trials were backed by Speedo, Pocari Sweat, and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Ajido, representing FTW Royals Swim, defeated Rodevic Gonzalvo (59.33) and Kristian Cabana (1:00.08) in the 100-meter butterfly, then outpaced rivals Jet Berueda (25.68) and Elijah Ebayan (25.87) in the 50-meter freestyle.
“I was a bit surprised by my performance because compared to yesterday, I felt out of shape today. Maybe I was just excited on opening day, so I couldn’t break the QTS in my two events,” said the Grade 9 student from La Salle Greenhills, referring to his non-QTS gold medal performances on the first day.
The veteran SEA Age Championships medalist also won the boys’ 14-15 100-meter backstroke (1:01.01) and 200-meter Individual Medley (2:12.57) on the opening day.
Meanwhile, Mojdeh, a semifinalist at the World Junior Championships last year in Israel, ensured her place in the Philippine training pool by winning the girls’ 16-18 200-meter breaststroke. She clocked 2:40.27, breaking the QTS (2:40.42) and defeating Reiko Uy (2:47.50) and Sealtiel Daiz (2:48.45).
“I have a lot of catching up to do in my training. I don’t feel like my body is fully ready, but I’m happy with this good swim and the results,” said Mojdeh, nicknamed “The Water Beast,” following up on her victory in the 200-meter IM (2:26.16) on Thursday.
Fil-American Riannah Chantelle Coleman, a scholar at the National Sports Academy (NAS) in Tarlac, continued to impress the crowd. The 15-year-old dominated the girls’ 14-15 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:43.55, another QTS performance (2:45.54). She defeated Krystal David and Asian Age Group Championships competitor Kyla Louise Bulaga (2:50.63).
Coleman, swimming for Dax Halili Swim Club, also broke the 33.98 QTS for girls’ 14-15 50-meter breaststroke with a winning time of 33.96 on Thursday.
Sharing the Day 2 spotlight were Filipino-American Gian Santos and Miranda Cristina Renner, Fil-Mongolian Enkhmend Enkhmend, and Fil-British Hatch.
Santos claimed his second QTS (2:22.78) by winning the boys’ 16-18 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:18.30. Enkmend excelled in the 14-15 category with a time of 2:24.19 (QTS: 2:24.49), while Renner topped the girls’ 19-over 50-meter freestyle (26.26). Hatch, the Paris Olympian, edged out fellow Fil-British rival Charles Belloti (24.06) in the boys’ 19-over 50-meter freestyle, clocking 23.86.
