Lacuna, Hall eye to set record time in Asian Games

INCHEON, South Korea – Olympian swimmer Jessie Khing Lacuna and Fil-Am Joshua Hall arrived here on Thursday with the hope of setting new time record.

Lacuna and Hall checked in at the Athletes Village just in time for the Flag raising ceremony that officially kicked off the Phl’s campaign in the 17th Asian Games.

“For this meet, we’re looking for the times lang naman eh,” said the 20-year old Lacuna, who will participate in the men’s 100m and 200m freestyle, and also the 100m butterfly.

Hall, who is based in Wisconsin, also agreed.

“Like what Jessie said, big thing is best time, and hopefully it means getting you in the finals and perform well to be able to land a medal,” said Hall, who is set to compete in the 50m and 100m breaststroke.

Hall broke the previous record held by Miguel Molina in the 100m breaststroke, clocking 1:02.87 in the 15th FINA World Championships in Spain last year.

Lacuna, for his part, ranked 36th in his first Olympic stint and being the youngest during the London games in 2012. Last year, he won nine golds in the Philippine National Games. His personal best remains to be 00:52.10 in the 100m freestyle, which he recorded in the Southeast Asian Federation Championship in Singapore in 2012 while 00:24.44 in the 50m freestyle, which he set during the Southeast Asian Age Group competitions in 2010.

He hopes to finally land the gold in his second try at the Asian Games.

“This is already my second time so I know what to expect. ‘Yung pressure, andiyan naman yan parati eh so kailangan mo lang maging kalma,” Lacuna said.

Another young Olympian Jasmine Alkhaldi, who plane in late Friday, complete the lean but mean three-man roster of the country’s swimming team here.

Alkhaldi will participate in the women's 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle and 50 and 100m butterfly.

All their heats will be aired on TV5, the home of the 17th Asian Games.