CLOSE to 500 tankers are competing in the 5th Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Invitational Swimming Competition.
The swimming competition has attracted a total of 31 teams from Quezon City, Manila, Iloilo, Bacolod, Dipolog, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao, Talisay City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu City, and Ozamiz.
The three-day tournament organized by the SHS-AdC swimming team started last Friday with the novice category. The medal round for the regular category will be competed today.
The regular category will have an overall team champion and the most be-medalled swimmer in every division.
“We were supposed to finish the novice category last Friday but we moved some events this Saturday because of the bad weather,” organizer Jess Arriola said in an interview.
He said that a total of 472 swimmers coming from different schools have signed up for this year, the most number of participants in five years.
“We are growing every year. Last year, we had 300 plus swimmers and it increased to close to 500 this year. This is also the first time that we have entries from Manila,” he said.
The Ormoc King Fishers Swimming Team is the defending champion of the event, while the host SHS-AdC finished second last year.
“This year, SHS-AdC is fielding 48 swimmers in the regular category and 15 in the novice category. We sure will compete against the other teams. As a host, we will be happy with whatever result we get,” said Ariolla, who’s Ateneo’s swimming coach.
There will be 108 events in the regular category that will be competed today. The team with the most points will win the overall title. (RSC)