THE LONG-AWAITED University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Swimming Tournament began with a tough kick-off by the FAST Ateneo Swimming Team (FAST) earlier today at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool in the City of Manila. The Women’s Team was set to a shaky start with three individual eliminations and two podium finishes from relay events.

Opening the finals of the 4×50 Medley event, the Blue Eagles finished with a time of 2:04.49 but fell inches behind the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. Securing second place for the Blue and White were Samantha Coronel, Rona Lalimo, Marjorie Manguiat, and Kirsten Manuel. Shortly after the group event, Manuel finished eighth in the 100m Freestyle after clocking in 1:03.97, while teammate Angelyn Dela Cruz closed in at fourth place with a time of 1:01.46.

Dela Cruz comes in fourth with (1:01.48) while Manuel records (1:03.97) for eighth place.#UAAPSwimming pic.twitter.com/W2V0iWSJR0

— Ethan M. Encarnacion (@Ethan_TheGUIDON) November 24, 2022

Ateneo’s Nirel Ibarra finished in seventh place with a time of 2:36.53 in the 200m Medley but was able to snag the silver medal with teammates Coronel, Sofia Isip, and Portia Doragos in the 4x200m Freestyle event. Finishing with a time of 9:18.14, the Blue Eagles ended in second place behind the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses. 

The Ateneo Women’s Swimming Team will continue their rally to the top on Day 2 of the UAAP Season 85 Swimming Tournament tomorrow, November 25, at 8:30 AM at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool in Manila.