Thanya dela Cruz breaks Philippine 50m breaststroke record

Thanya dela Cruz broke the national record in the women’s 50-meter breaststroke to set the tone on the first day of the 2021 Philippine Swimming National Selection on Friday, October 22, at the New Clark City Aquatic Center.

The 18-year-old from Marikina City erased the previous record with a new mark of 32.89 seconds, breaking Joy Rodgers’ 32.93 set in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the same venue.

Rodgers finished behind Dela Cruz at 33.94 seconds.

“Sobrang saya kasi sobrang tagal nating hindi nakapag-swim. I mean, so coming here wala namang expectations, just to get back the feeling lang,” Dela Cruz said. “I didn’t expect na mag-rerecord.”

(I’m so happy because we haven’t been swimming for a long time. I mean, so coming here, there were no expectations, I just wanted to get that feeling back. I didn’t expect to set a record.)

The Ayala Harpoons Swim Club standout also topped the field of eight swimmers in the women’s 50m freestyle with 27.92 seconds, way ahead of second-placer Trixie Ortiguera of nearby Tarlac Mako Sharks SC’s 29.31 seconds.

SEA Games campaigner Sacho Ilustre clocked the fastest time in the men’s 100m butterfly with 57.13 seconds, just a few ticks away from upstart Joshua Ang of the Golden Sea Eagles, who clocked at 57.44.

Ayala Harpoons’ Miguel Barreto also held his fort in the men’s 400m freestyle with a time of 4:07.37, as QC Buccaneers’ Chloe Daos touched at 4:39.21 to take the women’s side.

Ryan Marco Tirol, also of the Harpoons, topped the men’s 50m breaststroke with 30.05 seconds. Meanwhile, John Niel Paderes and Shayne Lugay won the men’s and women’s 100m backstroke with 1:01.22 and 1:10.38, respectively.

In the women’s 100m butterfly, UAAP Season 82 girls’ swimming MVP Camille Buico dominated with 1:03.94. 

Ted Laminta of the D’Ace Seahawks also finished way ahead of the pack which includes Ianiko Limfilipino (2:16.04) by clocking at 2:13.89 in the men’s 200m individual medley, while the lone participant in the women’s side Xiandi Chua ended with 2:25.32.

Seb Wong, also of QC Buccaneers and the brother of SEA Games wushu gold medalist Agatha, made his mark when he swam the fastest in the 50m freestyle. The 22-year-old touched at 24.00 seconds for the win.  

Joshua Del Rio of the Ateneo Blue Knight Swim Club finished the men’s 1500m freestyle with a time of 16:40.12, while 15-year-old Michaela Mojdeh topped the women’s event with 18:58.71.

The second day of the selection meet that is backed by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) is set on Saturday. – Rappler.com