Over 30 records established in Speedo long course national swim

MANILA, Philippines - Jules Ong, Hannah Dato, Axel Ngui and Kirsten Chloe Daos led the assault on swim marks as they dominated the sixth Speedo Long Course National Championships at the Rizal Memorial Complex in Manila recently.

Ong, last year’s Milo Outstanding Athlete awardee and a Palarong Pambansa veteran, set four new records, including a 2:17.72 clocking in the 200m free, while Dato, a former Milo Little Olympics best swimmer, recorded three marks 800m free (9:27.37), 100m free (0:59.35) and 400m free (4:34.37).

Ngui and Daos, former winners of the PSA and Milo Junior Athletes of the Year honors, also held their best records in their respective divisions.

Over 30 records were shattered in the event put up by Speedo in partnership with Milo and graced by Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia, PSC commissioner Akiko Thompson, Philippine Swimming, Inc. president Mark Joseph and swimming Olympiad Eric Buhain.

Four hundred five homegrown swimmers from 45 club teams across the country disputed top honors in various events with the young tankers posting more than 30 record-smashing feats.

Athletes who have represented the country in national and international competitions such as the Milo Little Olympics, Philippine National Games, and Southeast Asian Games stamped their class in the four-day event.

Young tankers Raine Gavino and Xiandi Chua have been churning out impressive times in the top-notch competitions, including the Palarong Pambansa and the SEA Games while rising star Xiandi Chua remained the holder of last year’s 200m back record of 2:32.02.

Raine Gavino also clocked an impressive 00:34.37 in the 50m breaststroke.

Jessie King Lacuna, seeking a spot in the 2016 Rio Olympics, swept two time records in the 1,500m free and 400m free, clocking in at 16:33.10 and 4:12.09, respectively, while Roxanne Ashley Yu, a multiple bronze medalist in the SEA Games in Singapore recently, broke two records in the 200m back (2:19.82) and the 100m free (1:00.17).

Maurice Sacho, Miguel Baretto, Marco Austriaco, Ianio Limfilipino, Philip Yu-Santos, Andrea Ngui, Dara Carreon, Seth Martin, Melissa Courtney Gray, Erika Burgos and Aldo Batungbakal, all holders of multiple time records in their respective categories, also shone in the Speedo competition.

“Guided by our highly competent coaches and supportive parents, we are truly proud of our local talents who brought out their best in this competition,” said Lani Velasco, event organizer, Galaxy Starships Swim Team. “We are delighted to be teaming up with the PSC, the Philippine Swimming, Inc. and Milo Philippines in working towards the improvement and advancement of Philippine swimming through this competition.”

Swimmers who joined the national championships have met the minimum required times set during the series of meets held in NCR, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao last January to June. The competition follows an international standard and is the first competition in the country to utilize electronic swimming touch pads.  

“We at Milo are thrilled to be working with organizations that share the same vision for our young athletes. We work hand in hand to encourage them to grow and be better champions in life through sports,” said Andrew Neri, Milo sports marketing manager.