GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Nine swimming records were shattered on the opening day of the 2025 Batang Pinoy National Championships at Antonio Acharon Sports Complex here Sunday.

Local bet Christian Isaiah Lagnason broke two records previously held by Pasig’s Arvin Naeem Taguinota II, setting new benchmarks in the boys’ 12-13 200-meter individual medley (IM) and 100-meter freestyle events.

Lagnason reset the 200m IM mark by nearly three seconds, clocking 2 minutes and 19.63 seconds and erasing the previous standard of 2:22.02, while posting 57.26 seconds in the 100m freestyle — almost a full second faster than the old record of 57.92.

Meanwhile, Ashton Clyde Jose of the City of Santa Rosa in Laguna province reset the tournament record in the opening event, registering 2:15.12 in the boys’ 16-17 IM.

All podium finishers in the boys’ 14-15 100m freestyle eclipsed the previous record of 56.17 seconds, led by Mandaluyong’s Kevin Bryle Chan, who topped the race in 55.39 seconds.

Negros Oriental’s Dylan Edward Plaza (29.82s) and Pasig City’s Roland Aaron Seprado (28.32s) also became new record holders in the boys’ 12-13 and 14-15 age categories, respectively, in the 50m backstroke.

In the girls’ division, Sophia Rose Garra of Malabon City clocked 30.71 seconds in the girls’ 12-13 50m backstroke, with all medalists surpassing Nicola Diamante’s old mark of 33.16.

Rhian Casey Casona of Mandaue City (31.92s) set a new record in the girls’ 14-15 50m backstroke, while FJ Catherine Cruz of Mabalacat City narrowly established a new best in the girls’ 16-17 50m backstroke with 31.23 seconds, just 0.06 seconds faster than the previous record.

Braving inclement weather at the same venue, Bago City’s Divine Pablito captured the first gold medal of the tournament in the girls’ discus throw U18 final held late Sunday morning.

Improving on her eighth-place finish in the previous edition of Batang Pinoy in Palawan, the 17-year-old Negrense threw 32.19 meters on her first attempt, beating Maasin City’s Trisha Nalla (31.26m) and Tarlac’s Gwenn Julia Salac (30.05m).

“In-expect kong makapasok ng magic eight, pero hindinumber one (I expected to make it to the magic eight, but not as No. 1),” the Grade 12 student of Ramon Torres National High School said.

“Mahirap ‘pag umuulan, madulas (It’s difficult when it’s raining because it’s slippery),” she added.

Meanwhile, Tarlac’s Rich Justin Torres ruled the boys’ shot put with a throw of 14.01 meters, while Bago City’s Kharl Allen Ecija (13.58m) and Caloocan City’s CJ Clark Lopez (13.25m) rounded out the podium finishers.

Philippine Sports Commission Chair John Patrick Gregorio led the flag-off of the criterium cycling event near the General Santos City Hall before meeting with members of the press at Lagao Gym.

Action will continue across various venues on Monday, as more medals remain up for grabs in what is shaping up to be the biggest edition yet of the Batang Pinoy National Championships — 18,698 athletes from 188 local government units, accompanied by at least 4,300 coaches, competing in 27 sports.

The other events are archery, arnis, badminton, 3×3 basketball, boxing, chess, dancesport, futsal, gymnastics, jiu-jitsu, judo, kickboxing, karate, muay, pencak silat, sepak takraw, soft tennis, tennis, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.