St. Jude overall champ in PSL age group swim

MANILA, Philippines - Ianiko Limfilipino emerged most outstanding swimmer in the boys 9-10 age group while Joshua Eldridge Ching took the boys 13-14 years plum to power St. Jude Catholic School to the overall championship in the sixth leg of the Philippine Swimming League age group championship last weekend.

St. Jude, which boasts of a balanced academic and sports program, had a front-running 601 points to lead other clubs in the final leg of the PSL swimming series.

Susan Papa Sports Academy was second with 447.50 points while Bosay Aquatics was third with 292 points in the competition where 41 meet records were broken.

Inaki Lorbes (7-8), member of the SPSA and a student of Montesorri de Manila, was the most improved swimmer for breaking his marks in the 50-meter butterfly (37.18 seconds), 50m breaststroke (48.10), 50m freestyle (37.06 sec), 50m backstroke (42.97 sec), and 100m freestyle (1:22.63).

Other most outstanding swimmers were Bhay Newberry, Bosay Aquatics (girls 6-U), Irvin Landell, St. Jude, and Charles Ticbaen, MCU East (boys 6-U), Ice Tan MCU East (girls 7-U), Charima Binder, SPSA (Girls 9-10), Anne Rojo, Bosay Aquatics (girls 11-12), EJ Lorbes, SPSA (boys 11-12), Delia Angela Cordero, SPSA (girls 13-14), Denjylie Cordero, SPSA (girls 15-over) and James Amago,   Lipa City Mediatrix Swim Club (boys 15-over).

The PSL age group series, which is open to all swimmers who are members or non-members of the PSL, resumes next year.

In line with its grassroots program, the PSL waives fees for public school students as well as most outstanding swimmers of previous competitions.

Also part of the PSL program are swimming clinics and participation in international tournaments. A group of PSL swimmers is leaving for Bangkok today to compete in an international age group competition.