Olympian-trained Sophia Garra of WaveRunners Swim Club swept three events via Qualifying Time Standard (QTS) to lead 10 top podium finishers who made a grade in the just concluded MVP/Smart-PAI National Tryouts for the47th Southeast Asia (SEA) Age-Group Championships over the weekend at theTeofilo Yldefonso Aquatics Center in Malate, Manila.
The 13-year-old junior standout from Malabon City and protege of 2000 Sydney Olympian Jenny Guerrero stole the limelight from her much-illustrious competitors winning her backstroke events—girls 11-13 50-m, 100-m, and 200-m—for an automatic inclusion in the Philippine Team that will participate in the annual regional championships.
Garra, a Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy multi-medalist, topped the 50-m in a time of 31.00 seconds, beating the 31.16 QTS, while clocking 1:06.65 to match the QTS in the 100-m, before capturing her third goldmedal in the 200-m at 2:23.91 (2:24.34). Her closest rival Jordane PorscheS ales of Aquaventure placed second in all three events.
This is the second time for Garra to don the National colors in the prestigious tournament slated this August in Malaysia. She made it last year in Thailand with two QTS-breaking performances.
Joining her in the championships were last year’s teammates, including Asian SEA Age Championships lone gold medalist Jamesray Mischael Ajido of Royals Swim Club, Fil-British Alexander Eicler, Kyla Bulaga of La Union, Patricia Santor of Ilustre East, Fil-BritonRhianna Chantele Coleman of Dax Swim Club, Fil-Am Ava Bautista, FJ Catherine Cruz ofNOGCC Swim, Ryian Zach Denzel Belen of FTW Royals, and Albert Jose Amaro of San Beda College.
Ajido, the lone Filipino gold medal winner (boys 12-14 100mbutterfly, 55.98) and record breaker in last year’s Asian Age Group tilt in Capas, Tarlac, ruled the boys’ 16-18 100m butterfly, clocking 55.40 seconds, passing the 55.64 QTS. The La Salle Greenhills phenom then finished third inthe 50-m fly won by Eichler (25.03) with a time of 25.37 seconds, but enough tobeat the QTS at 25.48. Amaro got the silver and also qualified with a time of25.36.
The 16-year-old Coleman, a scholar at the National Academyof Sports in Clark, also got another chance to don the National color as sheclaimed the gold in the girls 16-18 100-m breaststroke in a time of 1:14.38,just two-tenths of a second better than the QTS.
Also passed the QTS are Ryian Zach Denzel Belec of FTWRoyals in the boys 16-18 50m back clocking 26.89 (QTS, 26.90); Kyla LouiseBulaga of La Union Bull Sharks in the girls 14-15 200m butterfly(2:21.17/2:25.39); Cruz passed the 2:27.22 QTS in girls 16-18 200-m back with atime of 2:23.85, while Patricia Mae Santor passed the 2:26.22 QTS in the girls16-18 200m butterfly clocking 2:21.00 and Bautista topped the girls 16-18 50-mand 100-m fly in time of 28.04 and 1:03.52, passing the QTS of 28.88 and 1:03.56,respectively.
Other gold medalists but failed to beat the QTS are TitusSia, 13, who topped the boys 11-13 1500 freestyle (18:06.90) and 200m freestyle(2:08.75); Paulo Dominick Della Anton in the boys 16-18 200m free (2:01.47);Anya Dela Cruz in the girls 11-13 200m free (2:22.74); Ana David 14-15 class(2:12.25); Billie Blue Mondonedo in the girls 16-18 200m free (2:11.19).
