By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

COOPER Graf may not have set world records in the 12th FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, but last Saturday, he accomplised what no swimmer in this year’s meet had even done.
The NMI swimmer chopped off one minute, seven seconds from his previous personal lifetime best swim in the 1500m freestyle swim recording 20:40.61 in his final event last Saturday
In an email to the Variety, Saipan Swim Club coach Michael Stewart said Cooper’s 1:07 was the largest drop of any swimmer in the world championship this year.
Graf’s previous LTBS was 20:40.61, and according to Stewart, the Saipan International School student sprinted the last 200m of the race to the roar of the crowd.
“I think he was feeding off to the crowd’s energy. He knew it was him they were cheering for,” Stewart said.
Graf during Day 3 also drew the attention of the crowd when he swam in the 800m freestyle swim. He competed against swimmer twice or even three times his age in the 800m and made a new LTBS.
Also in Day 7, Sarah Johnson recorded her sixth straight LTBS when she timed in at 31.39 in the 50m freestyle. Her time was .2 seconds faster than her previous LTBS.
Rezne Wong rested on Day 7 and returned into the pool yesterday for the 400m individual medley.
Despite starting to feel the fatigue due to seven days of competitions, Wong timed in at 5:10.44, behind by only two seconds from his LTBS. Wong competed in 10 individual events.
His ninth event was the 100m, butterfly last Friday in Day 6, in which he posted a new LTBS of 1:07.01, two seconds faster than his previous mark.
Wong also joined the 50m freestyle and clocked 27.13, .4 of a second behind his previous LTBS.
Graf also swam in the 50m freestyle and was 0.2 of a second behind his best time as he posted 31.78.
After eight days of hard work, the NMI team took time out and watched a professional rugby game between Melbourne and New Zealand yesterday afternoon.
Stewart and the three NMI swimmers will leave Melbourne tonight and will return to Saipan tomorrow afternoon.
“They will arrive with great memories, a new-found confidence and some inspiration for their teammates back on the island,” said Stewart, who was watching the finals of the various events and the closing ceremonies with the three NMI swimmers last night at the Rod Laver Arena.