CEBU City’s star swimmer Loren Dale Echavez and John Solon, both from the University of San Carlos, jumpstarted their bids in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) swimming competition on a high note with record-breaking feats in the first day of competition yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center Aquatic Center.
The USC college and high school teams topped the first day which virtually turned into a dual meet between USC and University of Cebu.
The USC college team collected 17 golds, 10 silvers and six bronzes with three new records, while UC was at a far second with a 3-6-4 gold-silver-bronze medal haul.
Solon paced the USC college squad after winning three gold medals in the 400 meter freestyle, 100 butterfly and 200 free.
His biggest achievement was his 200 free performance, where he shattered Andrei Josef Ynclino’s two-year-old record of 2:17.53, and improved it by two seconds, 2:15.69.
It was a one-man show for UC with Noel Cañeda winning all three gold medals in the 100 and 50 breast and 200 IM.
In the high school division, Echavez also collected three gold medals to help the USC high school team post a 12-6-3 medal tally.
Echavez reset her own record of 2:20.75 made last year in the girls 200 meter free to 2:18.43.
Four golds
Her other individual gold medals came from the 200 m free and 100 fly.
It was however, Jessie Arriola, Jr., who had the most productive finish among the USC high school swimmers yesterday with four gold medals in the 200 IM, 200 free, 200 back and 400 free events.
The other record set by USC swimmers was the 400 free relay of the girls high school squad.
UC, on the other hand, was led by Paula Abigail Vega, who took two first place finishes in the 200 IM and 200 back events.
The only non-USC and non-UC swimmer, who won a gold yesterday was University of San Jose Recoletos’ John Beltran, who topped the boys 100m breast. (MCB)
