PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan -- Meet records continued to fall in the swimming competitions at the 2024 Batang Pinoy Championships even as weightlifter Reynadine Jimenez, niece of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, took the spotlight in the 2024 Batang Pinoy Championships on Monday, Nov. 25, at the RVM Sports Complex here.

Quezon City’s Jaime Maniago bagged the boys 16-17 100-meter breaststroke gold medal in 1 minute and 6.78 seconds to also eclipse the one-year-old mark of 1:07.66 by Morie Pabalan of Pasig.

Catherine Cruz of Mabalacat City also made waves and ruled the girls 16-17 200m backstroke with a time of 2:28.71 while shattering the old mark of 2:29.61 by Jie Angela Talosig last year.

In weightlifting, Jimenez 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.

“Masaya ako nakuha ko na yung gold. Feeling ko po andito yung future ko,” said the 13-year-old Jimenez, who won bronze in the 2001 edition and silver last year.

Back at the swimming pool, 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 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).

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 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.