PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan -- City of Malabon’s Sophia Grace Garra and Pasig City’s Arvin Taguinota plucked their respective third gold medals on Monday, Nov. 25, to lead the multi-medalists in the swimming competitions of the 2024 Batang Pinoy Championships here.

The 12-year-old Garra, a Palarong Pambansa record-breaker, ruled the girls 12-13 200-meter backstroke at the RVM Sports Complex with a time of 2 minutes and 30.00 seconds to edge eventual silver winner Anika Matiling of Bacolod City (2:38.42) and bronze medalist Angella Perez of Kidapawan City (2:44.45).

It was a fitting follow up from her early victories in the 200m individual medley and the 100m freestyle the day before.

The 13-year-old Taguinota, meanwhile, who was coached by former Olympian Jhessie Lacuna, reigned supreme in the boys 12-13 200m backstroke with a time of 2:19.88 to beat Parañaque City’s Behrouz Mojdeh (2:24.49) and San Juan City’s Titus Sia (2:26.24).

“We’re more focused on their performances. Bonus na lang yung medals,” said Lacuna on Taguinota, who also won in the 200m IM and 200m free over the weekend.

Taguinota is set to compete in four more events: the 100m butterfly, 100m back, 4x50m free and 4x50m medley.

Aklan’s Nuche Veronica Ibit also claimed her second gold after triumphing in the girls 14-15 50m fly in 29.95 seconds to also take the spotlight.

Other Day 2 winners were City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan’s Dirk Espelimbergo in the boys 12-13 50m fly (29.69sec), Ilocos Sur’s Makayla Fetalvero in the girls 12-13 50m fly (31.43sec), Bulacan’s Gerald Esquivel (26.77sec), Quezon City’s Patrick Vidal in the boys 16-17 50m fly (26.25sec), and Antipolo City’s Patricia Santor in the girls 16-17 50m fly (30.33sec).

Meanwhile, City of Dasmariñas’ Jerico Cadag (6:09.36) and City of General Trias’ Charrylyn Samontina (7:41.52) bagged the boys and girls under-18 2000m steeplechase to lead the morning winners in athletics.

In weightlifting, Reynadine Jimenez, niece of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, finally claimed the elusive gold medal after winning the Children’s Girls (CG) 40kg division with a total lift of 102 kilos -- 43 kilos in snatch and 59 kilos in clean & jerk.

In cycling, City of Davao’s Shyrah Rizalado and City of Quezon’s Aristen Dormitorio topped their respective age groups in MTB XCO at the Sta. Monica Motocross Race Track.

Rizalado clocked 31:01.33 to rule the girls 14 to 15, while Dormitorio timed 25:04.74 to win the girls 12 to 13.