Fil-foreign Gian Santos and Riannah Chantelle Coleman continued their stellar performances on Saturday, the penultimate day of the Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) 50-meter long course National Trials at the Teofilo Ildefonso swimming pool in Malate, Manila.
Despite impressive showings from local competitors, the duo remained dominant.
Santos, an incoming freshman at Columbia University in New York, secured his third gold medal while surpassing the Southeast Asian Age Group (SEAG) Qualifying Time Standard (QTS) in the boys’ 16-18 200-meter freestyle, clocking a time of 1:51.39—over four seconds faster than the QTS of 1:55.45.
The Novo Aquatics-trained Filipino, born in the US to Filipino parents, also shattered the QTS (4:07.74) in the 400-meter freestyle on Thursday, finishing in 4:01.26. On Friday, he delivered another outstanding performance in the 200-meter breaststroke, besting the QTS (2:22.78) with a time of 2:18.30.
“I’m just trying my best and hoping to inspire the youth here,” Santos said. “My goal is to represent my country and ultimately make it to the Olympics.”
Coleman, a 15-year-old Filipino-American based in Tarlac and a scholar at the government-run National Academy of Sports (NAS) in Clark, maintained her impressive streak by claiming her third consecutive QTS performance. She won the girls’ 14-15 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:14.12, breaking the standard of 1:14.50.
The promising swimmer, coached by Dax Swim Club, is a strong contender for the Philippine Team after her previous outstanding performances — a 2:43.55 in the 200-meter breaststroke (breaking the 2:45.54 QTS) and a 33.96 in the 50-meter breaststroke (better than the 33.98 QTS).
“I feel incredibly blessed,” Coleman said. “I want to thank my parents for their support and Coach Dax (Halili) for believing in me. Representing my country at a high-level international competition is a dream come true.”
Local swimmers also made their presence felt. Asian Age Group gold medalist Jamesray Ajido, 2022 World Junior Championships semifinalist Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh, and experienced international competitors Mishka Sy and Ivo Nikolai Enot showcased their talents in the event sponsored by Speed, Pocari Sweat, and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Ajido, a Grade 9 student at La Salle Greenhills and a top contender for FTW Royals, added two more gold medals to his tally, winning the boys’ 14-15 50-meter backstroke (28.57) and 200-meter freestyle (2:02.35). He previously dominated in four events, breaking or matching the QTS in the 100-meter butterfly (56.25), 50-meter freestyle (24.64), 100-meter backstroke (1:01.01), and 200-meter Individual Medley (2:12.57).
Mojdeh continued her strong performance by winning the girls’ 16-18 100-meter breaststroke (1:15.40) and achieving a QTS time in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:40.27). Sy, a two-time SEA Age campaigner, secured her third gold in the girls’ 19-over 200-meter freestyle (2:12.40), adding to her previous victories in the 400-meter freestyle and 100-meter freestyle. Enot impressed by breaking the QTS in the boys’ 16-18 50-meter backstroke with a time of 27.24 (better than the 27.38 QTS).
Other swimmers who surpassed the QTS include Maxene Hayley Uy (girls’ 14-15 50-meter backstroke), Shania Joy Baraquiel (girls’ 16-18 50-meter backstroke), Billie Blu Mondenedo (girls’ 16-18 200-meter freestyle), and Fil-Mongolian Enkhmend Enkhmend (boys’ 14-15 100-meter breaststroke).
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