The 2025 Batang Pinoy National Championships opened under the rain on Sunday morning but the weather didn’t unnerve nine young athletes who swam their way to nine new games records at the Antonio Acharon Sports Complex.
Christian Isaiah Lagnason broke two records-held by Pasig City’s Arvin Naeem Taguinota II in the boys’ 12-13 200-meter individual medley (IM) and 100-meter freestyle-for host General Santos City of the multi-sport meet opened by Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick ‘Patò’ Gregorio on Saturday night.
Lagnason reset the 200m medley record by nearly three seconds with a 2:19.63-erasing the previous standard of 2:22.02-and timed 57.26 seconds in the 100m freestyle that was almost a full second faster than the old record of 57.92.
Ashton Clyde Jose made the City of Santa Rosa proud after she reset the tournament record in the opening event-2:15.12 in the boys’ 16-17 IM.
The 1-2-3 finishers in the 100m freestyle of the boys’ 14-15 category broke the previous record of 56.17 seconds led by Mandaluyong’s Kevin Bryle Chan, who topped the race in 55.39 seconds.
Negros Oriental’s Dylan Edward Plaza (29.82s) and Pasig City’s Roland Aaron Seprado (28.32s) also became new record holders in the boys’ 12-13 and 14-15 age categories, respectively, in the 50m backstroke.
In the girls’ division, Sophia Rose Garra of Malabon City clocked 30.71 seconds in the girls’ 12-13 50m backstroke, with all medalists surpassing Nicola Diamante’s old mark of 33.16.
Rhian Casey Casona of Mandaue City (31.92s) set a new record in the girls’ 14-15 50m backstroke, while FJ Catherine Cruz of Mabalacat City narrowly established a new best in the girls’ 16-17 50m backstroke with 31.23 seconds, just 0.06 seconds faster than the previous record.
Braving inclement weather at the same venue, Bago City’s Divine Pablito captured the first gold medal of the tournament in the girls’ discus throw U18 final held late Sunday morning.
Improving on her eighth-place finish in the previous edition of Batang Pinoy, the 17-year-old Negrense threw 32.19 meters on her first attempt, beating Maasin City’s Trisha Nalla (31.26m) and Tarlac’s Gwenn Julia Salac (30.05m).
‘I only expected to be in the magic 8 and not No. 1,’ said the Grade 12 student of the Ramon Torres National High School.
Tarlac’s Rich Justin Torres ruled the boys’ shot put with a throw of 14.01 meters, while Bago City’s Kharl Allen Ecija (13.58m) and Caloocan City’s CJ Clark Lopez (13.25m) rounded out the podium finishers.