Isleta torpedoes to five gold medals in PAI National Trials

The Arizona State University alumnus and member of the school’s professional team in the US Series, Isleta topped the girls' 50 back and 200 free clocking 27.83 and 2:04.17, respectively in the event backed by Speedo, Pocari Sweat, and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Currently taking her master’s in communication and media at the Dela Salle University-Taft and swimming under her own Chloe Isleta Aquatics, Isleta outpaced fellow National mainstay and 2023 Cambodia SEA Games record holder Xiandi Chua in the 50m duel (29.06) and Asian Aged Group Championship campaigner Trixie Ortiguerra (29.25).

 

In the 200 free, Isleta overpowered La Salle bet Hannah Sanchez (2:09.10) and South Cotabato pride Jie Angela Talosig (2:10.38) to hike her gold medal hauls to five in the four-day event used as selection for members of the Philippine Team set to participate in the World Aquatics World Series.

 

The World Series comprises competition on Oct. 18-20 (Series 1) in Shanghai, China; Series 2 on Oct. 24-26 in Incheon, South Korea; and Series 3 on Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 in Singapore. The series culminates with the Championships on Dec. 10-15 in Budapest, Hungary.

 

“Just doing the best I can. I guess I’m in good shape and ready to compete for the flag and country,” said Isleta.

 

Isleta’s victory over Chua is the third in their fourth friendly duel in the tournament. The 26-year-old Filipino American beat the Australian-trained Chua of Top Swim Club in the 100 backstroke on Tuesday, clocking 1:00.31 against her La Salle schoolmate (1:01.14). On Wednesday, Isleta edged out Chua in the 100 Individual Medley (1:01.64), by almost two seconds (1:03.02). In the 50 free, she won against Fil-Am Miranda Renner (25.65/25.72).

 

Chua, who reset the SEAG record in women’s 200-m backstroke (2:13.64) with a time of 2:13.20 last year in Cambodia, got a sort of revenge by beating Isleta in the 200m Individual Medley clocking 2:16.22, just 0.13 seconds ahead of Isleta (2:16.35).

 

World Junior Championships semifinalist Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh and South Cotabato pride Jie Angela Talosig claimed two golds each.

Dubbed ‘The Water Beast’, the Brent International graduating high school, topped the 200m breast (2:35..05) and 200m fly (2:15.31), while Talosig from Midsayap Swim Team claimed victories in the girls' 800m free (9:30.09) and 400m free (4:32.62).

 

Other gold medal winners with one more day left Miguel Barreto in the boys 400 freestyle (4:00.87) and 200m free (1:49.68) Rian Marco Tirol in the boys 50 back (27.69); Jerard Dominic Jacinto in the boys 100 back (56.11); Nathan Farrel Jao in the boys 200 IM (2:02.20); Rian Marco Tirol in the boys 100-m breast (1:00.91); Sophia Annika Margare Isip in the girls 100m breast (1:12.41), Jerard Dominic Jacinto 50 back ( 24.89); Robin Christophel Domingo in 200m butterfly (2:02.38) ; Raymund Paloma 800mfree (8:23.94); Filipino-American Kyle Vadez in the boys 200 breast (2:17.50); Marcus De Kam in the Boys 100 IM (1:00.45); Metin Mahmutoglu in the Boys 50free (22.64); Joshua Ang in the boys 100 fly (53.44); Fil-Am Miranda Renner in the girls 100 fly (1:01.80)