Day one of the 2011 Arafura Games: 17yrs and above Swimming events
Morning session of day one of the 2011 Arafura Games concluded yesterday, with the preliminary rounds of the swimming events in the 17yrs and above age category. The arena witnessed the astounding efforts of the age group swimmers, who were trying to overwhelm
each other for the fastest qualification spots.
The session started with the Girl’s 200m Individual Medley (IM), where only two swimmers participated in the event. Ester Anokia of Indonesia was the only qualifying swimmer, with her timing of 2:58.52 minutes, while Quezon City’s Antoinette Aquino, was
disqualified in the last lap.
In the Boy’s category, Banjo Borja of Philippines dominated the event with a stupendous time of 2:16.99 minutes. His wonderful timing placed him nine seconds ahead of his closest swimmer, Michael Barker of NT, who qualified as the second fastest swimmer,
clocking a time of 2:25.35 minutes. Dhil Anderson Lee of Philippines followed them into the finals as the third fastest swimmer, posting a time of 2:25.41 minutes.
Moments later, Monique Bacolod of Philippines demonstrated her beautiful swimming in the Girl’s 50m back-stroke. Bacolod produced a time of 32.62 minutes to occupy the fastest qualification spot. She was followed by Judith Meauri of Papua New Guinea and
Roanne Florence YU of Philippines, who appeared as the second and third fastest swimmers, with a timing of 34.92 and 35.16 seconds, respectively.
The next event was the Boy’s 50m back-stroke, where Johansen Benedi Aquilar of Philippines cruised his way to the finishing wall in a time of 28.84 seconds. He was followed by Borja and Papua New Guinea’s Peter Pokawin, who claimed second and third fastest
qualification spots, posting a time of 29.50 and 30.43 seconds, respectively.
Later, Lee once again demonstrated his skills in the Boy’s 100m butterfly, where he posted a time of 59.53 seconds, to earn the fastest qualification. Aguilar and Kenny Bower emerged as the second and third fastest sprinters, reporting in a time of 1:02.17
and 1:03.36 minutes, respectively.
The final of the same events will take place in the evening session, where these swimmers will once again battle each other to secure podium finishes.
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