Teen swimmers set new records in national age group meet

Teen swimmer Joshua Gabriel Ang. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Teen swimmers Jamesray Ajido and Joshua Gabriel Ang carved a rosy outlook by obliterating three national records in the pool during the 2022 Philippine National Age Group Swimming Championships.

The 13-year-old Ajido of the Antipolo Gems Sea Scorpions erased a pair of junior standards in the 11-13 boys’ 50m butterfly and 200m backstroke at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex swimming pool in Manila.

Ajido, a sixth grader from the Montessori Integrated School of Antipolo, touched the wall in the 50m fly at 27.18 seconds, just a shade under the 27.75 seconds set by Arbeen Miguel Thruelen on July 7, 2018.

Returning to the pool in the afternoon, Ajido fashioned out another record-shattering swim, this time in the 200m back with an effort of two minutes and 20.38 seconds, narrowly beating Ivo Nikolai Enot’s clocking of 2:20.61 on June 30, 2019.

Ajido accomplished both feats in front of 512 grassroots swimmers representing 63 member-clubs across the nation in the PNAG, a meet backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, featuring the finest tankers aged between 11-18 years old.

Swimmer Jamesray Ajido. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“The success of the PNAG served as an indicator to PSI that the swimming community is ready to get back on track,’’ said PSI president Lani Velasco, who recently got a fresh four-year mandate.

The 17-year-old Ang of Golden Sea Eagles set the national standard in the junior 16-18 boys’ 50m butterfly at 25.10 seconds, removing the mark of 25.43 seconds established by Rafael Barreto on June 9, 2018.

According to Velasco, the PSI is committed to resuming the Grand Prix, the swimming association’s flagship event for identifying grassroots talent.

“As we enter the second half of 2022, expect more regular events and activities from PSI. We’ll continue the fight,’’ said Velasco.

“I am especially excited to see that our swimmers, not just from Metro Manila, have maintained their form. At the PNAG, we saw plenty of swimmers from outside the capital rule their respective events,’’ added Velasco.

Team Philippines brought home a gold medal courtesy of Chloe Isleta in the women’s 200m backstroke plus three silver and three bronze medals from the recent 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

“Our historic exploits in the 2019 SEA Games, the valiant performance of Luke Gebbie and Remedy Rule in the Tokyo Olympics, the notable swims in the Fina World Swimming Championships and our historic run in the 31st SEA Games have provided our grassroots swimmers plenty of motivation and hope,’’ said Velasco.