Kean Pajarillaga participated in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships race at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minnesota last week.
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Kean Pajarillaga raises his hands after winning gold in the 200 Backstroke event of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minnesota last week.
KEAN Pajarillaga, a Saipan-born athlete, won a gold medal in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships and was named Co-Rookie of the Year.
Pajarillaga, a freshman at Macalester College, dominated the 200-yard Backstroke event with a time of 1:53.77 at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minnesota on Saturday.
He also received an All-MIAC honorable mention by placing fifth in the 500 Freestyle with a time of 4:46.20 and the 100 Backstroke with a time of 52.80.
In an interview with Variety, Pajarillaga said he felt good and was very happy to win the gold in the 200 Backstroke. “The competition is very tough but also really inspiring because swimming against really fast people makes me want to get better and work harder to go faster in my swims,” said the Grace Christian Academy graduate.
What made the achievement even more memorable for Pajarillaga was that it was his very first collegiate meet, and he was named Co-Rookie of the Year.
“It is awarded to a first-year swimmer who earned the most points among all first-year competitors during the MIAC championships,” he said. “To me, it means a lot because I worked really hard to earn the award, and the people around me inspired me to get better.”
Pajarillaga started his collegiate career with the Macalaster swimming and diving team in September.
“I would like to thank my family for their constant support,” he said. “My coaches and my teammates that I have here in college have cheered me on and gave me a great first year experience. Also, I want to thank my coach, his wife, and my club team back home who have always supported me and have trained me to be where I am today.”
