THE CNMI national swimming team members participating in the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates have broken their personal best records.
FINA stands for Fédération internationale de natation which is French for International Swimming Federation.
The swimming championships started on Dec. 16 and will end on Dec. 21.
Here’s what the CNMI swimmers have accomplished in Abu Dhabi:
• Juhn Tenorio
He broke his personal best record in the Men 100m Backstroke. He was ranked #2 in heat 1 against five other swimmers. He recorded a split time of 28.03 in the 50m mark and completed the event with a total time of 58.85, breaking his personal best. Overall, he placed 52nd among 55 other athletes and did not qualify for the semifinals.
The 17-year-old also competed in the Men 50m Freestyle where he was ranked #2 once again in heat 1 but was 60th overall with a time of 23.97. He likewise competed in the Men 50m Backstroke and recorded a time of 28.03.
• Shoko Litulumar
Shoko Litulumar, 14, broke her personal best record in the Women 50m Breaststroke where she landed at rank #3 in heat 2. Overall, she was ranked #50 with a time of 39.91 and did not qualify for the semifinals. She also competed in the Women 50m backstroke where she was ranked #4 in heat 2, and ranked #50 overall with a time of 33.85.
• Jinnosuke Suzuki
In the grueling Men 200m Freestyle, Jinnosuke Suzuki broke his personal best record and was ranked #3 in heat 1, and #62 overall with a time of 1:57.27.
In split time, he reached the 50m mark at 27.06, the 100m mark at 28.94, the 150m mark at 30.41 and the200m mark at 30.86. Unfortunately, he did not qualify for the semifinals. In the Men 50m Freestyle, the 16-year-old recorded an impressive time of 23.97 and was ranked #2 in heat 1 and #60 overall. He also competed in the Men 100m Freestyle where he clocked 56.00.
• Asaka Litulumar
Asaka Litulumar, 16, broke her personal best record in the Women 100m Freestyle where she was ranked #6 in heat 1 and #78 overall with a time of 1:06.30. She marked a split time of 30.96 in the 50m mark and 35.34 in the 100m mark. She also competed in the Women 50m Freestyle with a time of 30.96.
Mixed 4×50 Freestyle Relay
As a team, CNMI did well in the Mixed 4×50 Freestyle Relay. Suzuki started the race with a split time of 25.06 followed by Tenorio at the 100m mark for a time of 23.81 while Asaka covered the 150m mark at 30.08 and sister Shoko finished at the 200m mark with a time of 31.14 for a CNMI total time of 1:50.09.
The CNMI national swimming team members pose with Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation’s Hiroko Tenorio and Richard Sikkel during the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
