Age groupers try mettle in PSL open swim

MANILA, Philippines - For young swimmers accustomed to 50m and 25m pool competition, the open water swim event Sunday off Boracay Island was a welcome experience.

Over 200 swimmers, which included age groupers, their parents and coaches as well as tourists who just loved to swim, plunged into the waters at the Club Paraw fronting the famed Boracay beach to try their mettle.

“This is the first time I joined the open water swim event and this is something new, my swimmers enjoyed it so much,” said Thomas Davis, from Arizona USA, head coach of the Aklan Aquablades.

One young girl swimmer said, “It’s tiring but I will never forget this kind of experience and will do it again.”

The competition was the 43rd leg of the PSL Circuit, also dubbed Gov. Carlito Marquez Cup.Paul Jerome Carpio and Camyl Evangelista won in the 18-over category of the age-group competition, which drew swimmers from Aklan, Capiz, Manila, Caloocan, Parañaque, Quezon City, Antipolo, Laguna and Davao. The first phase was held at the 50m pool in Kalibo Saturday.

The other winners were Emanuel Joshua Lorbes and Patricia Molino (15-17), John Carlo Doragos and Celine Delotabo (13-14), Sean Terence Zamora and Portia Kate Doragos (11-12), Charles Ticbaen and Sam Doragos (9-10), Vaugn Aquino and Jaz Villanueva (7-8), Marc Bryan Dula and Micaela Jasmin Mojdeh (6 and under).