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London-bound swimmer Lacuna wins 400-m freestyle gold in national games
DUMAGUETE CITY – London Games-bound Jessie King Lacuna, as expected, won the gold in the 400-meter freestyle in the open category at the start of the swimming competition of the 2nd POC-PSC National Games here at the Lorenzo Teves Aquatics Center.
But this annual event is just a small part of his build-up for the 2012 Olympic Games in July where he will be pitted against the best swimmers in the world.
The 18-year old Lacuna, representing Bulacan, clocked in four minutes and 12.95 seconds in the 19-over category to win the gold over Davao City’s Jose Joaquin Gonzales (4:14.42).
The time was way below his personal best 3:59.75 which he set in 2010 Singapore Open.
“I’m not yet in my peak. We’re still loading on techniques and maybe by end of June nasa peak na ako,” said Lacuna, who will compete in six more events here.
After the National Games, Lacuna is set to compete in Singapore Southeast Asian Championship next month along with fellow Olympic-bound Jasmine Alkhaldi
Lacuna will be swimming in the 200-meter freestyle event in London where the world’s best swimmers are competing.
“I’m very excited and thrilled to go to London. I have been in the World Youth Olympics but this will be the real deal,” said Lacuna. “Puro mama na nandoon kaya scary din.”
Other winners in the men’s and boys 400m free which employed mixed age-group format were Marc Audrey Santos of Bulacan in 11-12-years old category, Jenkins Lorenzo Labao of Baguio in 13-14, Jethro Roberts Chua of Cagayan de Oro in 15-16, and Franz Marquez of Quezon Province in 17-18.
