Jamesray Mishael Ajido (PNA file photo)
MANILA – Jamesray Mishael Ajido grabbed two more golds on Sunday to increase his medal haul to eight in the Philippine Aquatics, Inc. National Age Group Championships at Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
Ajido, representing FTW Royals Swim Club, clocked 1 minute and 2.44 seconds to win the boys' 15 Class A 100-meter backstroke over John Jeremy Villanueva of Pasig City (1:05.87) and Vince Santiago De Leon of Ilustre East Aquatics (1:09.23).
The incoming Grade 9 student from La Salle Green Hills also dominated the 50m freestyle in 24.87 seconds. Matt Aaron Nerison of Elizabeth Seton Saints finished second (26.32s), followed by Elijah Ebayan of South Warriors (26.53).
Ajido previously secured the gold medals in the 50m and 100m butterfly, 100 and 200m freestyle, and 50m and 200m backstroke.
He likewise earned a silver in the 4x100m medley relay with Julian Louwers De Kam, Jalil Sephraim Taguinod and Bryce Barraza on his way to earning the Most Outstanding Swimmer award.
His last three events -- 200m butterfly, 200m Individual Medley and 400m freestyle -- were scheduled late in the afternoon.
Ajido, a member of the FTW Royals Swim Club headed by coach Sherwin Santiago, is still recovering from a right shoulder injury he sustained during the ASEAN School Games tryouts last month.
He bagged the gold medal in the 12-14 100m butterfly at the 11th Asian Age Group Championships at the New Clark City Aquatics Center, Tarlac in February with a time of 55.98 seconds, breaking the 56.36 time of Chinese Wang Yu Xiang in 2019.
Ajido's teammates swept the boys' 17 and over Class A 50m freestyle event, with Jerard Dominic Jacinto taking the gold (24.34s), Seb Wong (24.58s) the silver and Johan Carlos Aguilen (24.58s) the bronze.
The top three finishers in the girls division were Camille Lauren Buico (27.31s) and Atasha Dela Torre (28.20s) of Rising Atlantis Swim Club, and Ashley Jullet Wong (28.37s) of FTW Royals Swim Club.
Other winners in the girls' 50m freestyle categories were Rica Jane Ansale of Ilustre East Aquatics (girls' 11 Class A), Sophia Rose Garra of Waverunners Swim Club (girls' 12 Class A), Caelyn Dane Salac of Modern Aquatic Swim Club (girls' 13 Class A), Krystal Ava David of Golden Sea Eagles (girls' 14 Class A), Kristine Jane Uy (girls' 15 Class A), Nichole Rivera (girls' 16 Class A).
Champions in the boys’ division were Findlay Jake Mackenzie of Elizabeth Seton Saints (11 Class A), Von Andrei Pinon of Ilustre East Aquatic (12 Class A), Ethan Manuel Elimos of Santa Rosa City (13 Class A), Mark Justine Africano of ECC Swim Club (14 Class A) and Marc Lebron Racuma of CM Riptide Swim Club (16 Class A). (PNA)
