By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

(First of a two-part series)

KENSUKE Kimura missed winning a high-point trophy in the 2007 Saipan Swim Club International Invitational Meet over the weekend, but still shone in the two-day tournament shattering two national age group records.
Last Friday at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool in Marpi, Kimura swam in the 800m freestyle and timed in at 11 minutes, 18.39 seconds chopping more than 50 seconds off Rezne Wong’s previous record in the 9 to 10 age group. Wong’s time was 12:10.82.
On the same day, Kimura clocked 3:23.31 in the 200m breaststroke eclipsing his own record set in last year’s Micronesian Games by more than 11 seconds.
Kimura attempted to post his third record-breaking performance that day, but missed the 100m breaststroke mark by 3 tenths of a second.
“After being under the weather earlier this week, the way Kensuke continues to rewrite the record books is amazing,” SSC coach Mike Stewart said.
In other results, Jellian Majors was within one tenth of a second of breaking the 50m freestyle record in the girls’ 11 to 12 age group. She timed in at 30.48 seconds.
Aside from winning the 50m freestyle swim, Majors also topped the 100 and 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 50m and 100 breaststroke and 200m individual medley.
Wong ruled the boys’ 15 to 18 age group prevailing in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m breaststroke, 100m and 200m backstroke and 100m butterfly.
Wong and Majors won the high-point trophies in their respective age groups.
The high-point trophy was given to a swimmer who got the most points in his age group after the tournament last Friday and Saturday. Swimmers receive points depending on how they finish in the race.
Over 40 swimmers from Saipan and Guam participated in the tournament.
“It was a small meet and the conditions (weather) were not the best. However our kids continue to work and race hard,” Stewart said.
It rained over the weekend and after each race, participants were seen wearing warmup jackets or wrapping themselves in big towels.
“I think we are on the right track heading into the championship season,” added Stewart, who is talking of two off-island tournaments, the World Championship in Melbourne, Australia from March 25 to April 1 and the Guam Championships in May and June.
Other results of the meet will be published in Variety’s Tuesday edition.