Isleta, Chua take charge in national swimming tryouts

The most decorated juniors and elite swimmers made their presence felt on the final day of the Philippine Aquatics-organized National Tryouts on Sunday at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate Manila.

World Championship campaigners Chloe Isleta and Xiandi Chua proved their place at the top echelon, while top juniors Michaela Jasmine Mojdeh, Heather White, and Jamesray Ajido registered multiple victories as they emerged top contenders for the 44-man Philippine Team that will compete in the 11th Asian Age Group Championships slated Dec. 3 to 6 at the New Clark Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac.

Isleta, the 25-year-old US-based and Arizona University mainstay, captured four gold medals, while the 24-year-old Chua dominated two events in the three-day meet that attracted the country’s best swimmers and foreign-based athletes.

Isleta, under the banner of One Ilocos Sur Swim Team, coached by former Olympian Ryan Arabejo, topped the girls’ 18-over 100m backstroke (1:04.04), 100m freestyle (56.86), 200m freestyle (2:04.57) and 200m Individual medley (2:18.06), while Chua, her teammate in the World tilt in Fukuoka last July, delivered in the girls’ 18-over 50m back (30.20), and 50m free (26.06).m

“We’re happy to see them joining the tryouts. Umuwi sila mula sa US training para ipinakita nila rito ang kahalagahan ng slots sa National Team na kailangang mong paghirapan at hindi maaaring makuha dahil seeded ka na. Itong palakasan system at turuan sa pagpili ng mga atleta ang inaalis namin ni president Miko Vargas,” said Philippine Aquatics, Inc. Secretary General and Batangas 1st District Representative Eric Buhain.

The 14-year-old Ajido, a national junior record holder and two-time SEA Age Group medalist, was among the top tier juniors that shone and received ‘probationary’ status for the PH team after dominating the boys’ 12-14 200m back (2:15.76), 100m butterfly (57.12), 200m free (2:02.68), 200m IM (2:16.01), 50m back (28.90), 200m fly (2:15.22), and 50m free (24.91),

White, who lost to another promising 14-year-old Trixie Ortiguerra in the girls’ 15-17 50m back on Day 2, recovered her bearing in winning the 50m free (27.78) against the pride of Tarlac, who submitted a time of 27.78. The Vietnam-based White also won the 100m fly (1:03.48), and 200m free (2:07.75).

Called the ‘Water Beast’, Mojdeh, a semifinalist in 2022 World in Lima, Peru, claimed victory in the girls’ 15-17 200m fly (2:18.50), and 200m Im (2:25.52).4

“Right now, probationary pa ang lahat. Ilalatag muna natin ‘yung mga results sa unang tryouts sa Dipolog City last two weeks, then we will come up with the official list. Target natin yung World Aquatics 700 points, but kung wala, ‘yung pinakamalapit ang kukunin natin,” said tournament director Chito Rivera.

Other noted junior tankers who claimed ‘provisionary’ status for the national team are Miguel Barreto in the boys’ 18-over 200m free (1:54.02), Kyla Louise Bulaga in the girls’ 12-14 200m IM (2:16.01), and 400m free (4:26.06), Arabella Taguinota in the girls’ 15-17 100m breaststroke (1:13.40), Chantelle Coleman in the girls’ 12-14 100m breast (1:19.82) and 50m breast (35.24), Kyla Louise Bulaga in the girls’ 12-14 200m Im (2:35.10), and Joshua Ramos in the boys’ 18 & Over 50m back (27.79);

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