Isleta, Chua make mark in national swimming tryouts

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

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

Isleta, a 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).

“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 naming ni President Miko Vargas,” said Philippine Aquatics Inc. Secretary General and Batangas 1st District Rep. Eric Buhain.

The 14-year-old Ajido, a national junior record holder and two-time Southeast Asia Age Group medalist, was among the top-tier juniors that shone and received "probationary" status for the Philippine 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 promising 14-year-old Trixie Ortiguerra in the girls 15-17 50m back on Day 2, recovered her bearing in