SOUTHEAST Asian Games record holder Xiandi Chua defeated fellow veteran SEAG winner Chloe Isleta in an exciting duel in the Individual Medley on Tuesday at the Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) National Trials 25-meter (short course) at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
The 23-year-old senior at De La Salle University, taking up Business Entrepreneurship, claimed the girls’ 200 IM, clocking 2:16.22, against fellow nationals and schoolmate Isleta, who was just one-tenth of a second behind (2:16.35).
The event served as a selection for members of the Philippine Team set to compete in the World Aquatics World Series this year.
“It’s too close, but I’m happy with my swim. It’s still a work in progress, especially in my underwater technique. Hopefully, I have more months to train and go back to Melbourne before the competition,” said the Melbourne Swim Club-trained Chua, who reset the SEAG standard in the 200-meter backstroke (2:13.64) with a time of 2:13.20 last year in Cambodia.
The World Series comprises competitions on October 18-20 (Series 1) in Shanghai, China; October 24-26 (Series 2) in Incheon, South Korea; and October 31 to November 2 (Series 3) in Singapore. The series culminates with the championships on December 10-15 in Budapest, Hungary.
World Junior Championships (2022) semifinalist Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh finished third, clocking 2:23.25.
The 18-year-old Grade 12 student at Brent International School has already secured a slot in the Philippine Team for the SEA Age Group Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, on December 6-10 after breaking two SEA Age Qualifying Time Standards (QTS) in the 50-meter trials over the weekend.
Isleta, swimming under her own Chloe Isleta Aquatics and a product of Arizona University, gained a measure of revenge by winning the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:00.31, defeating Chua of Top Swim Club (1:01.14) and Tarlac pride Trixie Ortiguerra (1:03.79).
The event was backed by Speedo, Pocari Sweat, and the Philippine Sports Commission.
Rising star Riannah Coleman, a Grade 9 student at the government-run National Sports Academy (NAS) in Clark, delivered another impressive performance, claiming the gold medal in the girls’ 50 backstroke with a time of 33.75, beating Krystal David (34.50) and Jamaica Enriquez (34.92).
The Fil-American beauty also secured a spot on the Philippine Team for the Bangkok tilt with a remarkable performance, breaking three QTS in the long course trials: 50-meter breast (33.96), 200-meter breast (2:43.55), and 100-meter breast (1:14.12).
