Ajido and Jacinto Shine at Speedo Sprint Meet in Manila
MALATE, Manila — Jamesrey Mishael Ajido and Jerard Dominic Jacinto captured the spotlight and clinched the Most Outstanding Swimmer awards at the Speedo Sprint Meet held Sunday at the Teofilo Yldefonso pool, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. The event showcased top swimming talents in various age categories, with both swimmers dominating their respective events.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Speedo Sprint Meet, sanctioned by the Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), featured stiff competition, particularly in the boys’ 15 years old and boys’ 17 years old and above categories. Ajido, a student from La Salle Greenhills, secured three gold medals, excelling in the 100m Individual Medley, 50m backstroke, and 50m butterfly. His performance in the 100m Individual Medley was particularly notable, finishing with a time of 59.74 seconds, ahead of competitors from Wave Warriors and Atlantean.
Jacinto, a seasoned competitor and SEA Games multi-medalist, was equally impressive, topping the charts in the 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly for the older age group. His times of 25.45s in the backstroke and 24.82s in the butterfly emphasized his prowess and preparation for upcoming national and international competitions.
Ajido, who recently recovered from a shoulder injury, expressed his gratitude for his recovery and readiness for the upcoming national tryouts. “I thank the Lord because my shoulder injury is fully healed. I’m back in training and I’m in good condition. I’m preparing for the national tryouts next month,” he said. These trials will determine the representatives for the 46th Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships in December, along with several other prestigious competitions.
The Speedo Sprint Meet also highlighted other notable performances from swimmers like Sebastian Liberato, Paul Casas, and Athena Del Rosario, among others, making the event a significant milestone in the Philippine swimming calendar.