UP standout nears YOG qualifying mark in PSL age-group swim

MANILA, Philippines - University of the Philippines standout Christen Mercado and rising star Daryl Concepcion stole the spotlight by registering new records in the Philippine Swimming League (PSL) 58th Leg Series dubbed PSL-Magnolia Swim Meet held at the Diliman Preparatory School swimming pool in Quezon City .

The 17-year-old Mercado had an impressive time of 24.77 seconds in copping the boys’ 17 years 50-meter freestyle to surpass his old mark of 24.91 last February.

The reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines Rookie of the Year almost reached the qualifying time of 24.48 for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games scheduled in August in Nanjing, China .

Mercado, a gold medalist in the Hong Kong Stingrays Swim Meet, also nailed record-breaking feats in the 50m breaststroke (30.93) and 50m backstroke (28.35).

Concepcion, on the other hand, pocketed five gold medals, including three records in the boys’ 12 years 50m backstroke (30.00), 200m freestyle (2:13.80) and 200m individual medley (2:32.77). He also won golds in the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly.

Martin Jacob Pupos of University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (boys’ 15 years) and Charles Chia (boys’ 8 years) also made their presence felt in the event supported by Magnolia.

Pupos copped five golds – 50m backstroke and 50m breaststroke with new records in the 50m freestyle (25.80), 200m freestyle (2:03.97) and 200m IM (2:22.83) while Chia won golds in 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke.

“We’re thankful to Magnolia for helping us in this endeavor. It’s one of the best editions we had after seeing huge improvements on their respective times. It only shows that this kind of monthly competitions is helping them to be more competitive,” said PSL president Susan Papa.