AGUSAN, DEL SUR — Two young standouts flexed their dominance in the 2026 Palarong Pambansa swimming competition, rewriting meet records in impressive fashion on Tuesday at the Datu Lipus Makapandong-Gov. Democrito Plaza Sports Complex.
Charles Nathan Boneo of Region 4A (Calabarzon) and Riannah Chantelle Coleman of the National Academy of Sports headlined the record-breaking spree after dominating their respective events.
Boneo delivered a statement performance in the elementary boys’ Under-12 400-meter (m) freestyle, clocking 4:30.63 to secure the gold medal while erasing the previous Palaro record of 4:31.39 set by Titus Rafael Sia of the National Capital Region.
The 12-year-old Imus native made an immediate impact in his Palaro debut, showcasing both confidence and ambition as he set his sights on rewriting the record books across all his events. Far from being satisfied with a single gold medal, Boneo made it clear that his ultimate goal is to break records in all seven of his entries.
“Coming here, I really felt good about myself because I trained really hard, and I really look forward to breaking all the records,” Boneo said, emphasizing that his motivation goes beyond podium finishes.
Still with six events left — including the 50-m butterfly, 50-m freestyle, 100-m freestyle and relay events — Boneo expressed unwavering belief in his preparation and ability to surpass both his competitors and existing standards.
“I can beat all of them. I can also beat Titus’ record. This confidence is coming from myself because I really trained hard for this moment,” he added.
Peter Greyson of Caraga claimed the silver medal in the event after touching the wall in 4:34.46, while David Tristan Reyes of Calabarzon also registered 4:34.46 to settle for bronze.
Coleman, meanwhile, continued her dominance in the pool by topping her own record in the secondary girls’ 100-meter breaststroke. The National Academy of Sports product clocked 1:14.82 to capture gold, surpassing her previous best and further cementing her status as one of the competition’s premier swimmers.
Krystal Ava David of NCR secured the silver medal with a time of 1:14.92, while Jamandre Kassandra of Region 6 (Western Visayas) finished in 1:18.30 to take bronze.
Beyond the pool, athletics competitions also produced record-breaking feats, particularly in the girls’ 400-meter dash across both elementary and secondary divisions.
Ashley Nicole Silvor of the Negros Island Region dazzled in the elementary category, sprinting to a record-breaking finish of one minute and 0.9 seconds. Claire Arian Gemparo of Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), clocked 1:00.44 for silver, while Llianne Pearl Redoblado of Region 11 (Davao Region) followed closely with 1:00.42 to secure bronze.
In the secondary division, Loraine Audrey Batala of Calabarzon delivered a dominant run, finishing in 56.12 seconds to break the long-standing record of 56.28 set in 2018 by Jessel Lumpas. Mary Joy Peñaflor of Eastern Visayas and Psalm Pagpag completed the podium with times of 56.87 and 57.01 seconds, respectively.
Field events also saw standout performances, with Khent Joseph Belarimo of Region 6 ruling the boys’ elementary shot put after launching a throw of 12.85 m for gold. JC Miguel Andres of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (12.03 m) and Darelle Adam Alba of Region 4B (Mimaropa) (12.0 m) settled for silver and bronze.
Eastern Visayas likewise shone in the girls’ elementary division, where Janela Barrite clinched gold in the triple jump with an 11.03-meter leap, while Casandra Balaba topped the long jump event with a distance of 5.13 meters.
With multiple records already falling early in the competition, the 2026 Palarong Pambansa continues to showcase the rising wave of young Filipino athletes eager to make their mark on the national stage.