Sy resets backstroke mark as PH rakes in 3 more golds

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA—Mishka Sy set a new record, Xiandi Chua seized another gold medal and Filipino-American Miranda Renner shared the limelight in the 42nd Southeast Asia Age Group Swimming Championships at Trace Aquatics Center here on Sunday.

Finishing off the podium in the 100m backstroke, Sy atoned in the girls’ 13-under 200m backstroke by nipping Thailand’s Jinjutha Pholjamjumrus in 2:27.34 that wiped out the two-year mark of Bhay Newberry (2:28.69) in the meet organized by the Philippine Swimming Inc. and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission.

“I was so close to getting a bronze [on Saturday], so I gave my best because this was my remaining individual race,” said Sy.
The Thai runner-up submitted 2:27.51.

Renner followed it up with a narrow victory in the finale of the girls’ 16-18 50m butterfly, winning in 28.23 seconds over teammate Regina Maria Paz Castrillo (28.36) and Indonesian Adinda Larassati Dewi (28.54).

“This was my first gold in the SEA Age,” said Renner, the California-based standout who also turned 17 on Sunday.

Chua’s second gold—the country’s fourth overall—in the International Swimming Federation-sanctioned event came in the 200m backstroke where she defeated Indonesian Azzarah Permatahani anew, 2:21.98 to 2:22.41.