Swim records tumble in City Olympics

CEBU, Philippines - Kirk Ebon of the University of San Carlos (USC) started to make a name in the swimming scene after breaking two meet records yesterday at the start of the 20th Cebu City Olympics at the Cebu City Sports Center.

 Ebon nailed a record-establishing swim in the 200m and 400m freestyle, which he did for the first time since his arrival here in Cebu the other year.

 The Davao City-native Ebon clocked in two minutes and 25.18 seconds in the 200m freestyle, eclipsing the previous record of 2:33.43 set by Jose Mari Lozano in 2004. He also made an impressive showing in the 400m freestyle with the time of five minutes and 7.37 seconds, breaking Michael Ichiro Kong’s old mark of 5:53.44 last year.

 “I’m glad that I was able to break records. This would be a good start that would motivate me in securing more golds in the CVIRAA because I would like to improve my standing in Palaro,” said Ebon.

 Ebon's teammate Mel Duran experienced the same fate as he dominated the 200m back stroke in the tertiary division, breaking Gino Bagano’s record of 3:31.49.

 The USC squad of Karla Casino, Stephanie Tan, Jennifer Sembrano and Judenia Brand also set a record in the collegiate 400m freestyle relay with a time of 6:29.60, erasing the SWU’s record in 2008, 7:43.37.

 Lyh Ann Navarro of Cebu Eastern College broke her own record last year in the 400m freestyle with a time of 5:34.58. She also reigned supreme in the 200m individual medley (2:58.11) and ranked second in the 50m back stroke.

 In the secondary division, the University of Cebu-powered Unit 5 of coach Rolando Alvarez earned the most number of points after they reigned supreme in five events courtesy of Trina Cañeda in 200m IM (2:56.31), Romilyn Niña Ignacio in 200m back (2:52.37), Beth May Arellano in 400m free (5:32.12) and the boys and girls’ 400m freestyle relay.

 UC’s 4x50m medley relay squad in Je Rose Rosada, Danielle Mae Ballesteros, Beth May Arellano and Christine Indaya took home the gold with the time of 2:28.11.

In the elementary class, Unit 5 and Unit 7 have two golds apiece. Unit 5’s Michael Kong Ichiro of FBC Christian School Inc. lorded it over in the 200m IM and 50m back, while Unit 7’s golds was poured in by Navarro. (THE FREEMAN)