By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
THE Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Team shattered NMI records and secured a historic gold medal at the 14th Oceania Swimming Championships in Suva, Fiji, over the weekend.
Leading the NMI charge is Keiser University standout Isaiah Aleksenko, who has already cemented his status as one of the region’s elite sprinters.
On Day 2 of the finals, Aleksenko won gold in the men’s 50-meter backstroke with a time of 26.40. The performance not only earned him the top spot on the podium but also saw him shave 0.02 seconds off his previous best, edging Australia’s Isaac Allan, who finished second in 26.48, in a thrilling finish.
Aleksenko’s gold followed a dominant Day 1 performance in which he captured two silver medals. He placed second in the men’s 50-meter butterfly in 24.60 and followed it up with another silver in the men’s 100-meter backstroke, finishing in 57.39.
Veterans and rising stars alike are contributing to the NMI’s rewriting of the record books. Juhn Tenorio narrowly missed the podium in the 50-meter backstroke, finishing fourth in 26.89 — a significant 0.40-second improvement from his entry time. Meanwhile, Kouki Watanabe made his mark in the 100-meter breaststroke, setting a new NMI age-group record with a time of 1:08.44 during the preliminary rounds.
Aleksenko also set another NMI record in the 50-meter backstroke during the preliminaries with a time of 26.42 before lowering it again in the finals.
The NMI’s success is particularly impressive given the team’s limited access to 50-meter long-course training facilities back home.
NMI coach Richard Sikkel said the primary goal heading into Fiji was for swimmers to reset their personal bests. Instead, the team has exceeded expectations by contending for medals against powerhouse nations such as Australia and New Zealand.
The momentum is expected to continue into Day 3, with Aleksenko scheduled to compete in the 100-meter butterfly final. Given his recent form — including a record-breaking collegiate season in the United States — the NMI delegation is hopeful for more medals before the meet concludes May 13.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
