SSC looking good on Guam

With less than a month remaining before the finest athletes in Micronesia descend upon the CNMI to vie for medals and bragging rights, the Saipan Swim Club started competing against international teams a little early by making waves in the Guam Swimming Federation’s last All-Island Invitational Swim meet of the season.

NMASA 2005 Coach of the Year Michael Stewart and 17 up-and-coming swimmers waged watery war in the Hagåtña Swimming Pool over the weekend against the Tarakito, Manukai, Manhoben, Typhoon, and Marlin teams from Guam, but also did a heck of a job competing against themselves.

After the closing out Saturday’s portion of the two-day affair, coach Stewart said that his tadpoles rose to the challenge in southernmost tank in the Marianas, and that he looked forward to watching them perform in the second half of the 147 individual events.

“The kids did an awesome job today,” he said.

Stewart noted that while Dominique Austin, Tatiana Calvo, Zoe Jewell, Amanda Johnson, Sarah Johnson, Emily Jones, Shane Ann Jones, Grace Kimball, Salyna Leon Guerrero, Cassidy Majors, Jellian Majors, Keanna Villagomez, Andrew Kimball, Kensuke Kimura, Shin Kimura, Jack Sharer, and Rezne Wong all did well, some had standout performances.

Among the highlights include Kensuke Kimura record setting 5:40 swim in the 400m Freestyle that broke the previous mark set Wong by more than four seconds. Wong also had a good day by taking the 200m Breaststroke in thrilling come-from-behind fashion. After trailing the leader by two body lengths midway through the race, Wong kicked in the aqua jets to spank his fellow splashers by touching the tiles a full two body lengths ahead of the second place finisher.

Stewart praised youngsters Jellian Majors and Dominic Austin for great swims in the 100m (1:19.88 and 1:31.07, respectively) and 400m (6:14.07 and 6:17.14, respectively) freestyles in which Majors took second in the A Division and Austin took first in the B Division.

The coach also made mention to the efforts of newcomer Grace Kimball. Stewart said that she is swimming far better than her experience would dictate and that great things could lie ahead if she continues to put in the time in the pool.

“She has done a wonderful job in her first international meet and she is looking like she has been here before. While I can’t say just how good Grace will be, I can say she is way ahead of the improvement curve, and trains and competes like a real talent,” he said.

One of the other highlights of the day included another first place finish for the 11-12 girls 200m Medley Relay in which Jellian Majors, Tatiana Calvo, Keanna Villagomez, and Dominic Austin tapped the wall in 3:04.73.