White gives PH breakthrough medal in Asian tourney
NEW CLARK CITY: Filipino British swimmer Heather White delivered the breakthrough medal for the Philippines in the 11th Asian Age Group Champions on Tuesday evening, February 27, at the New Clark City Aquatics Center here.
White, a Swim League Philippines standout, clocked one minute and 3.09 seconds in the girls 15-17 100-meter (m) butterfly event to claim a bronze medal on the second day of competition.
The 16-year-old, whose mother hails from Pantukan, Davao de Oro, finished behind Hong Kong tankers Yeung Hoi Ching and Mok Sze Ki, who seized the gold and silver medals, respectively.
Yeung registered a time of 1:00.50 as Mok submitted 1:02.73 in the final, which was White’s third in the tournament.
She competed in the 50-m freestyle also on Tuesday evening, having placed fifth with a time of 26.68 seconds. A day before, White plunged into the championship round of the 400-m freestyle where she registered 4:32.47 to finish in fourth place.
“I was so happy with that race (100-m butterfly),” said White, the most bemedalled athlete in the 2023 Batang Pinoy last December, tied with gymnast Karl Eldrew Yulo with seven gold medals.
“I went to the race without expecting much because I was still recovering from the freestyle event, so to have that big win after my loss to the 50 free was just so amazing, and I’m just so happy.”
Right after White seized her bronze, Jamesray Ajido also claimed his in the boys 12-14 50-m freestyle.
Competing in his fourth final, Ajido made sure that he was going to reach the podium after clocking 24.34 seconds behind gold winner Hirata Toya of Japan and silver medalist Wang Yaobin of China.
Hirata covered the distance in 23.21 seconds while Wang touched the finish line after 24.34 seconds.
Ajido tried to make it a double medal haul but he, Clyde Jose, Gilbert Gonzavo and Jet Berueda could not make the podium in the 4x100 medley relay, placing fourth with a time of 4:09.38 just .18 seconds behind bronze medalist in team Hong Kong.
The 15-year-old Ajido likewise advanced to the championship round of 200-m individual medley, where he finished fourth with a time of 2:13.29 and to the final of 50-m backstroke where he timed 28.46 seconds for a fifth place finish.