White, Mojdeh lead junior stars in national tryouts

Familiar faces emerged victorious at the start of the Philippine Aquatics-organized national tryouts NCR leg on Friday, Oct. 13, at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool inside the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) in Malate, Manila.

Vietnam-based Filipino-British Heather White and Micaela Jasmine “The Water Beast” Mojdeh, both two-time World Junior Championship campaigners, led the top-tier junior swimmers as they reigned supreme in their respective classes to secure “provisionary status” for the 44-man Philippine Team set to compete in the 11th Asian Age Group Championships slated Dec. 3-6 at the New Clark Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac.

The 16-year-old White, swimming under the Behrouz Elite Team, topped the girls 15-17 400m freestyle in a dominating fashion, clocking 4:35.57 which was almost four seconds ahead of second placer Fei Dolliente of San Beda (4:48.92), while the 17-year-old Mojdeh, a national junior record holder and semifinalist in 2022 world tilt, secured her place for another call of duty for the national team after winning the 200m Individual Medley in 2:25.37. Promising Kacie Tiongco, 14, from Mindanao, placed second (2:32.00).

“I’m very happy with my performance. I just arrived the other day so I don’t have a chance to practice more. Just lucky I got the chance to train abroad before our stint in the World Junior meet last month,” said White, who, along with Mojdeh, trained for months in the US before the World Junior Championship in Israel.

“Actually po, mas magaan ang loob ko pag local tournaments dahil masaya akong nakikita yung mga teammates ko at mga kapwa ko swimmers. Sa US talagang training hard kami halos tatlong beses sa isang araw,” added Mojdeh, who is set to return to US to continue her training and pursue a college degree.

Aside from the two prominent junior tankers, also making their presence felt were SEA Games gold medalist Chloe Isleta who ruled the girls 18-over 200 M freestyle in 2:04.57 and the 200m IM (2:17.62), SEA Age group veteran Jamesray Ajido in the boys 12-14 200m freestyle (2:01.21), Miguel Barreto in the boys 18-over 200m free (1:53.11)  and 200m IM (2:13.24); Arabella Taguinota in the girls 15-17 100m breastroke (1:13.40) and Chantelle Coleman in the girls 12-14 100m breast (1:19.82).

“Masaya kami at talagang united ang swimming community, yung mga swimmers natin sa abroad talagang naguwian para makiisa sa ating tryouts. Ang purpose kasi natin dito ay makuha ang pinakamahusay, hindi yung dahil may pambayad isasama na natin sa team, hindi tama yun kaya talagang binago ng bagong liderato nina President Miko Vargas and Cong. Eric Buhain,” said tournament director Chito Rivera.