By REYNALD MAGALLON
Paris Olympian Kayla Sanchez lived up to her lofty status as she triumphed anew in the Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) National Tryouts for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games over the weekend at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Center in Malate, Manila.
Sanchez surpassed the SEA Games qualifying standard of 1:05.17 in the women’s 100m backstroke with 1:02.38 time while also topping the field that also featured Cambodia SEA Games champion Xiandi Chua (1:03.07), veteran Quendy Fernandez (1:03.23).
2023 SEAG gold medalist Teia Isabelle Salvino (1:03.85), and 2022 SEAG titlist Chloe Isleta (1:03.91) also beat the mark.
However, per SEA Games rules, only the top two finishers per country will make the team for Bangkok.
Although failing to hit the qualifying mark, Sophia Rose Garra reset the national record after clocking 1:06.50 to eclipse her own 1:06.65 mark in the girls’ 13-under division. She also reset the girls’ 13-under 50m backstroke record with 30.70 seconds, smashing her previous mark of 31.00.
Sanchez booked another slot in the 50m butterfly, placing second at 27.46sec behind Fil-Am Miranda Cristina Renner (27.34) – both beating the qualifying mark of 27.69sec.
Sanchez also joined Fil-British swimmer Heather White both qualified in the women’s 200m freestyle, clocking 2:01.41 and 2:05.40, respectively, way ahead of the 2:07.17 QTS
National mainstay Xiandi Chua reinforced her standing as the top local bet, winning the women’s 200m individual medley in 2:18.38 to also beat the qualifying standard of 2:18.47. She finished ahead of US-based Isleta (2:21.87) and Shairinne Floriano (2:27.01).
In the men’s side, Fil-Am Gian Christopher Santos topped the boys’ 200m freestyle in 1:51.61, breaching the 1:51.74 QTS against locals Miguel Barreto (1:52.61) and Nathan Farrell Jao (1:52.70).
Filipino-Japanese Logan Wataru Noguchi also emerged as a strong contender, ruling the 50m butterfly in 24.30 and placing second in the 100m backstroke at 56.76 behind Fil-Canadian Joran Paul Orogo (56.67), both under QTS.
Other winners who missed the cut included Santos in the 200m IM (2:05.24), Renner in the 50m breaststroke (32.91), Kyla Louise Bulaga of La Union Swim Club in the 800m freestyle (9:44.17), and Rafael Isip of Ayala Harpoons in the 50m breaststroke (29.50).
