Ajido sets meet record in golden performance
NEW CLARK CITY, Philippines: In recordsetting fashion, Filipino Jamesray Ajido seized the gold medal in the 11th Asian Age Group Championships 12 to 14 boys 100-m butterfly event on Wednesday evening, February 28, at the New Clark City Aquatics Center here.
Ajido clocked a new personal, national, and meet record of 55.98 seconds to also hand the Philippines its first gold medal in the Asian Age Group Championships history.
It was not a total domination for Ajido, however, as he was running third after the first 50 meters, but turned up the heat in the final 50 at lane number 4.
Ajido went neck-and-neck against lane number 5 swimmer Nishiono Yusei of Japan en route to winning the gold by a mere 0.7 second.
Nishiono claimed the silver medal with his time of 56.05 that also surpassed the old meet record of 56.36 set by Wang Yu Xiang of Chinese-Taipei in 2019.
Wang’s compatriot Kan YungCheng submitted a time of 56.79 seconds to clinch the bronze medal in the third and penultimate day of the competition.
“I’m very happy ... I was surprised to finish first ... I dedicate this to the Lord and to my parents. I really did my best. [To my supporters], always trust the Lord, pray for your parents and thanks to all,” said Ajido, a La Salle Green Hills student and a product of the Batang Pinoy Games.
Ajido, who is already 15 but is eligible to compete in the 12 to 14 age group since the cut off for the competition was made last year. He also notched a bronze medal in the 50-m freestyle on Monday.
Ajido’s two medals hiked the Philippines’ tally to four with Heather White and Jasmine Mojdeh delivering the other two bronzes.
White, 16, clinched the bronze medal in the 15 to 17 girls 100-m butterfly event, where she clocked one minute and 03.09 seconds on Monday evening to give the Philippines its first medal in the ongoing meet.
Ajido followed suit right in the very next event as he timed 24.34 seconds in the 12 to 14 boys 50-m freestyle for the bronze.
Mojdeh, 17, gave the country its third bronze medal after submitting a time of 2:21.87 in the 15 to 17 girls 200-m butterfly event moments before Ajido seized the gold.