Cainta swimmer wins 3rd gold in PSC-Batang Pinoy

FILE: DAY 2 Swimming Competition of the 2022 Batang Pinoy National Championships (Photo: Philippine Sports Commission/Facebook)

BANTAY, Ilocos Sur – Aubrey Tom of Rizal province clocked 5:31.10 to rule the 400-meter Individual Medley event in the girls’ 13-15 years old category and emerged as the first triple-gold winner in the Philippine Sports Commission-Batang Pinoy National Championships at the Quirino Stadium here on Sunday.

The 15-year-old swimmer from Cainta town also dominated the 100-meter freestyles and the 200-meter individual medley (IM) last Saturday.

“I’m happy to win three gold medals despite my limited preparation,” said Tom, who won two gold medals (50m freestyle and 200m butterfly) and two silver medals (200m and 400m Individual Medley) in the UAAP last month.

She took a one-week break after the UAAP and resumed training for the Batang Pinoy only two weeks ago.

Tom, a Grade 10 student from the University of the Philippines Integrated School in Quezon City, debuted at the 2019 Batang Pinoy in Palawan where she pocketed five gold medals coming from the 50m and 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 50m backstroke and 200m Individual Medley. In the same year, she became a member of the national junior team which saw action at the 43rd Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships in Cambodia.

Tom has been a member of the Cainta Alpha Dragons team since she was five years old. She started training under Marichi Gandionco, the head coach of the Rising Atlantis Swim Club last Dec. 1.

Meanwhile, Kristian Yugo Cabana of Lucena and Kyla Louise Bulaga of La Union pocketed their second gold medals, respectively.

Cabana, a seventh grader from International School for Better Beginnings, registered 1:5.40 topped the boys’ 12 and under 100m butterfly event in 1:5.40 to claim his second gold medal after winning the 200m IM on Saturday.

Bulaga grabbed her second gold medal in the girls’ 12 and under category after clocking 1:12.70 in the 100m butterfly event. She had earlier won the 200m IM event.

In athletics, Sophia Angela Mae Dela Vega of San Jose City (Nueva Ecija) won the girls long jump in 4.77 meters. Jesalyn Materdan of Masbate (4.52) took the silver medal and Angelica Jane Balason of Quezon City (4.37) settled for the bronze medal.

In the boys’ discus throw event, Prince Charles Branzuela of Masbate copped the gold medal in 31.95 meters, beating Cyrihl Teves of Davao del Norte (30.69) and Yul Tristan Tumamak of Maasin City (Leyte), who submitted 29.41 meters.