Pinoy swimmers shine in Bangkok age group

MANILA, Philippines - Nine-year-old Hannah Sartorio bagged eight gold medals at the forefront of a brilliant finish by swimmers from the Diliman Preparatory School and Philippine Swimming League at the close of the Patana Age Group Swimming Championships in Bangkok yesterday.

Sartorio also won two silver medals. Kiefer Piccio also had eight gold medals to emerge second best Filipino performer.

In all, the Filipino swimmers supported by DPS president and former Sen. Nikki Coseteng took home a haul of 24-18-17 gold-silver-bronze medals, making the Philippines the best-finishing foreign team in the tournament which drew participants from Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Great Britain.

Other winners were Bhay Newberry with five golds, three silvers and one bronze, Joy Rodgers with four golds, two silvers and one bronze and Viel Vitug with one gold.

Members of the 4x100 medley relay team that won the gold were Armie Alcantara, Joy Rodgers, Patricia Talavera and Maria Siso. Gold medalists from the 4x100 freestyle are Hans Ramos, Matthew Tan, JayPee de Leoz and Emmanuel Adornado.

Other medal winners were Namahig Asa Mahiwo, Jea Talavera, Abdulrahim Nooh, Aerbeen Almoneda, Ashley Rances, JV Llaguno, Fergino Raneses and Aaron John Solestre.

“The competitors were strong, but the kids lived up to the challenge,” said PSL president Susan Papa.