De la Cruz breaks national record in swimming trials

THANYA DE LA CRUZ broke a pre-pandemic national record in women’s 50-meter breaststroke to set the tone in the Philippine Swimming Inc. Swimming National Selection on Friday at the New Clark City Aquatic Center in Capas, Tarlac.

The 18-year-old de la Cruz of Marikina City clocked 32.89 seconds, breaking Joy Rodgers’s 32.93 seconds she established in the same venue in December 2019 during the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Rodgers finished second to De la Cruz with 33.94 seconds.

“I’m so happy that we’re swimming again. It’s been that long that I didn’t swim and I didn’t expect much here,” de la Cruz said. “I didn’t expect to break the record.”

The Ayala Harpoons Swim Club standout also topped the field of eight swimmers in the women’s 50-meter freestyle with 27.92 seconds, way ahead of second-placed 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 100-meter butterfly of 57.13 seconds, edging upstart Joshua Ang of the Golden Sea Eagles, who clocked in at 57.44.

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

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

University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 82 girls’ MVP Camille Buico dominated the women’s 100-meter butterfly 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 in at 2:13.89 in the men’s 200-meter individual medley, while the lone participant in the women’s side Xiandi Chua ended with 2:25.32.

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

The meet is backed by Philippine Sports Commission, Bases Conversion and Development Authority and the Clark Development Corp.