Tsunami swimmers surpassed the grueling competition with Lukas Kang drawing first blood in the boys’ 8U division. Kang bagged 28 points among others while fellow Tsunami teammate Ryuto Yanai clinched second place with 26 points followed by Saipan Swim Club’s Lennosuke Suzuki with 12 points.
“It was exciting to see old records broken during our swim meet. These kids are amazing when they get in the water and are very fast,” said head coach Hiroyuko Kimura in an interview with Variety.
“I am very proud of all the swimmers who came out on that day and competed and I am most proud and honored to see my swimmers excel in their separate categories. A lot of records were broken that day and it was because of everyone’s hard work and perseverance,” Coach Kimura added.
Ryosei Toda dominated in the boys’ 9-10 years old category after pulling in 36 points. Teammate Hiroyoto Yanai seated comfortably in second place with 26 points. Yanai’s 2010 50m freestyle record was shattered by Ryuto Yanai after Yanai clocked in at 37.47.
In third place came Kento Akimura with 20 points. In the boys’ 11-12 years old category Tsunami’s Kaito Yanai clinched the throne with 30 points closely tailed by Takumi Sugie’s 28 points. Sugie was a fellow Tsunami swimmer as well.
For the boys’ open division Tsunami’s Kaisei Toda Kensuke Kimura place first and second with 16 points and 10 points respectively. Their fellow swim mates Kai Staal and Marvin Lee were tied for third place pulling in eight points each.
In the girls’ 9-10 years old category lonestar Miku Tammy obtained the most points after no pertinent swimmer competed with her. Tammy acquired 30 points while in the 11-12 years old category Tsunami’s Angel De Jesus posted the best record at 30 points.
In the girls’ open division De Jesus place first with 30 points followed by Saipan Swim Club’s Grace Kimball with 18 points and finally Keanna Villagomez with 16 points.
Some of the records that were broken last April 17 were as old as records made in January of 1996. In the 11-12 age groups for girls Angel Tan sliced through the water faster than anyone has ever seen in more than 9 years.
Tan broke Myana Welch’s 50m breast stroke from 39.67 to 39.06 followed by breaking Xenavee Pangelinan’s record of 6:08.07 in the 400m IM to 6:01.04. Welch’s record was made January of 2002 while Pangelinan’s record has stood since January 1996.
“We are definitely looking forward to future swim meets and we will have another one in coming up this May,” said Coach Kimura.
Registration due today for “Escape to Managaha.”
IN other news the registration for Saipan Swim Club’s 8th Annual Escape from Managaha is due today.
Registrations maybe dropped off to Tsunami’s head coach Hiroyoku Kimura at the tanks, Expressions, or to Saipan Swim Club’s Lisa Kimball.
The registration fee is $20 which will include a boat ride to Managaha and a t-shirt commemorating the event. All checks must be paid to Saipan Swim Club.
Young guns and other alumni swimmers will be seen during the day of the competition. Ichiro Borja and Taiga Sato, both eight years old, have confirmed their entrance into the competition.
Alumni Saipan Swim Club members Jennifer Pierce and Vincent Seman their participation in the race as well.
Senior swimmers Grace Kimball, Victoria Chentsova, Andrew Kimball, Keanna Villagomez and Kento Akimaru will use the meet as a swim workout for their competition in Guam later this month.
Last year, a total of 30 swimmers greeted Escape to Managaha. Some swimmers as young as seven years old up to 67 years joined the event with Lennosuke Suzuki as the youngest competitor to successfully complete the grueling race.
The coordinators of the “Escape” wants to kindly remind all registered participants to be at the Smiley Cove by 5:30 am for the boat ride to Managaha.
The swim race begins at 6:30 am. Wet suits, fins, and buoys may be used. But swimmers must be able to make it through the channel by 9:00 am.
Friends and family members can await their swimmers at the finish line at Micro Beach. For more information, please email [email protected].
