By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

REZNE Wong posted another national age group record, while Sarah Johnson is one swim away from recording perfect lifetime best swims in the 12th FINA World Championships after Day 5 of the meet at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia.
Wong timed in at 2:34.84 in the 200m breaststroke for his fourth straight LTBS. His time yesterday was almost three seconds faster than his previous LTBS in the 200m breaststroke.
The Marianas High School student also broke the CNMI record in the 15 to 16 age group. Wong was more than two seconds faster that former age group record-holder Justin Pierce. The old record was set more than 10 years ago, according to Saipan Swim Club coach Michael Stewart.
Wong placed second in his heat, behind by only .40 of a second against Heat 2 winner Genaro Mathias Prono Britez of Paraguay, who posted 2:34.44. Japan’s Kitama Kosuke recorded the best time in the 200m breaststroke preliminaries with his 2:11.07
This was the second age group record-breaking performance for Wong, who set a new 50m breaststroke age group mark last Tuesday with his time of 33.89 seconds.
Johnson is also on a roll recording her fifth straight LTBS yesterday when she timed in at 1 minute, 06.56 seconds in the 100m freestyle event.
“The swim was good enough to drop more than two seconds from her previous time of 1:08.76,” Stewart said in an email.
Johnson placed third in her heat, won by Pakistan Khan Kiran with a time of 1:04.69. The NMI swimmers finished ahead of two Palau tankers and an American Samoa swimmer.
The US’s Natalie Coughlin had the best time in the preliminaries with her 54.04.
“With the day off tomorrow (today), she is confident in having her goal of 100% LTBS coming true,” Stewart added.
The Saipan International School student posted LTBS in the 50m and 100m backstroke and 200m and 400m freestyle swims in the first four days of the annual tournament.
“Her last and best event, 50m freestyle is coming up Saturday,” Stewart said.
“My best time is 31.47, but I want to go under 30 seconds,” Johnson was quoted as saying in Stewart’s email to the Variety.
If Johnson times in at under 30 seconds, she will be only the second NMI swimmer to have accomplished that feat. Nina Mosley clocked 28 seconds in the 50m freestyle swim during the world championships in China last year.
Wong will be competing in his last two events today.
“He will challenge two events that are not his best, the 50m freestyle and the 100m butterfly. But I feel he is confident and will be up for the task,” Stewart said.
Cooper Graf rested yesterday and will be fresh for the 50m freestyle swim.
“Not his forte, however with the way he has been swimming here, there is no doubt of the outcome of this one, write it down, LTBS,” the SSC coach said.
“After five days, both Cooper and Sarah stay perfect with 5-for-5 LTBS, and with Rezne now fully recovered from his travel fatigue, I am really looking forward to the last three days,” Stewart added.
Stewart and the three NMI swimmers will be returning to Saipan on Wednesday.