MARKING THEIR fifth consecutive appearance at the World Rowing Indoor Championships (WRICH), the Ateneo Rowing Team (ART) held their own against international competition, fielding four athletes across five categories. The event was held in a full virtual setting last February 15–16.

Against a backdrop of over 1,600 participants worldwide, Kiana Co, Ysabel Letrondo, Brent Go, and Aldwyn Thor proudly represented the Blue and White in international waters.

Lightweight Women’s 500m Category

Driven by a desire to gain more international experience, Co took on some of the world’s top rowers in the most prestigious level of indoor rowing. She posted a qualifying time of 2:00.2, securing 10th place and a spot in the heats. In the next round, Co clocked in at 1:55.5, finishing 46th in her heat, which earned her a place among the top 50 semifinalists in her category. Unfortunately, her journey ended there as she recorded a time of 1:55.9 in the semifinals, falling short of a spot in the top 20 finalists.

Women’s 500m and 2,000m Category

Being the only rower who participated in two categories, Letrondo displayed tremendous power and will in her set of matches. The Blue and White’s representative clocked in at 1:47.6 and 8:08.9 in the 500m and 2000m categories, respectively. Despite a strong showing, however, Letrondo’s performance in the heats was not enough to secure a spot in the semifinals, tallying at 1:46.2 for the 500m race and 7:54.1 in the 2000m competition.

Lightweight Men’s 500m Category

Eager to bring prestige not only to the Ateneo but also the Philippines, Go delivered an impressive performance at this year’s WRICH. He posted a remarkable 1:34.4 in the qualifying round, securing fifth place. His strong form continued in the heats, where he earned a semifinal spot with a time of 1:33.2. However, his campaign concluded in the semifinals as he tallied a time of 1:33.5 to finish at 41st place.

Men’s 500m Category

Also a member of the Ateneo Judo Team (AJT), Thor tested his mettle as a dual-athlete and delivered a solid performance at the WRICH. While he sailed through the qualifying rounds with a time of 1:39.9, his campaign unfortunately ended in the heats, where he clocked in at 1:36.1.

Building on their strong showing at the 2025 WRICH, the ART is set to leverage this invaluable international experience as they aim for even greater success on the global stage. As the only university-based rowing squad in the country, they are determined to continue representing Ateneo and the Philippines in future international competitions.