Competing for international experience with modest expectations, Mikaela Talosig surprised herself with a bronze medal at the close of the 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Championships presented by the Philippine Sports Commission off Boracay Newcoast.
A mainstay of the De La Salle University varsity swimming team, the 20-year-old Talosig made a memorable international debut, clocking 1 hour, 18 minutes, and 57 seconds to finish third in the women’s 20-and-above division.
Indonesia’s Nadya Sirasawati secured the gold in 1:07:23, while Thailand’s Musikul Hirunhas settled for silver in 1:09:15 in the competition organized by Philippine Aquatics, Inc. and sanctioned by the Southeast Asian Swimming Federation.
Also bagging a bronze medal was Julia Jewels Pobleto in the girls’ 12-13-year-old 3-kilometer event. Pobleto clocked 50:40 to finish behind Thailand’s Kanchana Konsub (47:16) and Aliyah Sawangmun (49:48), who took gold and silver, respectively.
Nearly securing another podium finish for the country was Alfonso Joaquin de Mesa, who placed fourth in the boys’ 14-15-year-old class with a time of 1:04:57.
De Mesa finished just over two minutes behind Thailand’s bronze medalist Kantapong Polyiem (1:02:55), with Vietnam’s Vin Thai Bao Nguyen ruling the race in 57:44 and Thailand’s Sakdichot Talawong taking silver in 59:42.
(C) Pet Salvador/PAI
The meet was also supported by the Aklan provincial and Malay municipal governments.
“Honestly, I just wanted to experience competing at the international level. So to win a bronze medal for my efforts and in front of a hometown crowd at that is a pleasant surprise,” Talosig said.
“This is truly a nice feeling,” added the Lady Tanker, who won a gold medal in the women’s 800-meter freestyle and two bronzes at the UAAP Season 88 swimming meet held at the New Clark City Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac.
“This hosting is just a dress rehearsal for more international open water events,” said PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio, who arrived here Sunday to encourage the local swimmers and award medals to the winners.
“What is important is that we not only provide a vehicle in promoting sports tourism but also expose our local athletes by competing with the best athletes from overseas as we have the hometown support to inspire them to do their best,” he added.
With a smile of delight — and obvious relief — PAI Secretary General Eric Buhain thanked the PSC and all the participants for the successful staging of the three-day tournament.
“With the gloomy weather before the meet, we feel relieved that the elements cooperated and that we had three straight days of ideal sunny weather for our competition,” Buhain said. “We could not have asked for more.
“Our hats off to PSC Chairman Pato for fully supporting to stage the championships, opening opportunities for even bigger open water international swimming meets in the future,” he added.
