Swimmer Thanya Dela Cruz. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/PSI
MANILA, Philippines—Thanya Dela Cruz set a new Philippine record in the women’s 50-meter breaststroke during the 2021 Philippine Swimming, Inc. Swimming National Selection Friday at New Clark City Aquatic Center.
The 18-year-old from Marikina City clocked in at 32.89 seconds, breaking Joy Rodgers’ previous record of 32.93 seconds that she set in the same venue during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
“I’m ecstatic because it’s been a long time since we last competed. I really didn’t have any expectations coming here, I just wanted to get back the feeling once again,” said Dela Cruz in Filipino. “I didn’t expect that I would set the record.”
Rodgers, meanwhile, had the second-fastest time in the 50m tryouts with 33.94 seconds.
Dela Cruz, a member of the Ayala Harpoons Swim Club, also topped seven other swimmers in the 50m freestyle with 27.92 seconds, ahead of Trixie Ortiguera of Tarlac Mako Sharks SC who clocked in at 29.31 seconds.
Sacho Ilustre, who represented the Philippines in the 2019 SEA Games, was the fastest in the men’s 100m butterfly at a time of 57.13 seconds while Joshua Ang of the Golden Sea Eagles came in at second clocking in at 57.44 seconds.
Ayala’s Miguel Barreto was the fastest in the men’s 400m freestyle with a time of 4:07.37 while the QC Buccaneers’ Chloe Daos took the helm in the women’s 400m freestyle at 4.39.21.
The Harpoons’ Ryan Marco Tiro topped the men’s 50m breaststroke with 30.05 seconds while John Niel Paderes and Shayne Lugay won the men’s and women’s 100-meter backstroke with 1:01.22 and 1:10.38, respectively.
UAAP Season 82 Girls’ MVP Camille Buico took top spot in the women’s 100m butterfly with a time of 1:03.94 while Ted Laminta of D’Ace Seahawks had the best time in the men’s 200m individual medley at 2:13.89.
Xiandi Chua, the lone swimmer in the women’s 200m individual medley, had a time of 2:25.32.
Joshua Del Rio of the Ateneo Blue Knight Swim Club finished the men’s 1500-meter freestyle with a time of 16:40.12, while 15-year-old Michaela Mojdeh topped the women’s event with 18:58.71.