PAULINE Beatriz Obebe seemed poised to emerge as the runaway winner for the coveted most outstanding swimmer award as she hiked her gold medal haul to six even as Nicola Queen Diamante and Anya Dela Cruz remained solid in their performances yesterday in the second day of the Congress in Philippine Sports, Inc. Reunion Swim Challenge National Finals at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool at the Rizal memorial Sports Center.
Obebe, the pride of Aqua Sprint of coach Manny Thruelen, collected a total of six gold medals after two days of action, winning the girls 12 Class A 100-m freestyle (1:08.34), 100-m butterfly (1:14.93) and 50m breaststroke (46.01).
On opening day, the 11-year -ld dominated the 100-m breast (1:39:95), 200m back (3:00.69) and 50-m butterfly (58 seconds) in the tournament backed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Milo and Speedo.
“Gusto ko pong maging member ng Philippine Team in the future kaya talagang sinusunod ko ang program ni coach Manny. Next week try ko pong makagold pa rin,” said Obebe, referring to next week’s resumption of the meet organized by COPA in collaboration with the Samahang Manlalangoy sa Pilipinas.
Diamante won the girls Class A 100m fly, clocking 1:21.84 after anchoring RSS Dolphins squad to a bronze medal finish in the mixed 200-m individual medley (2:12.91).
Obebe’s teammate, Anya Dela Cruz, shone in the 9-year-old class, claiming the gold in the 100-m fly (1:35.72) and 100-m free (1:25.21).
