Graf breaks mark in Meek & Mighty

Cooper Graf splashed to a record win in the 4th Annual Saipan Swim Club Meek & Mighty Ocean Swim held Saturday in the waters off the Pacific Island Club.

Graf timed in 1:02 in the 5,000-meter Mighty swim, shattering his own mark of 1:03.16, which he posted in last year’s edition of the annual event.

After he crossed the finish line, Graf’s mother Linda greeted the swimmer and told volunteers of her son’s “motivation” for the race.

“Now he won, there’s a reason to grant his request [a ring],” the Linda said.

The Saipan International School student outraced eight other participants in the longest race of the day, which required swimmers to round the course five times in early morning breeze.

Checking in at second place was Lester Lapuz, who finished the race in 1:08:00, while Grace Kimball was third overall and the first female out of the water with her time of 1:10:27.

Michael Moran submitted a time of 1:10:37 to rank fourth, followed by Carol Lynn Pierce (1:20:12), Junior Pamaran (1:20:18), and Hiroabi Miskio (1:21:13).

Andrew Kimball joined the race, but was bitten by a fish and decided not to finish the event after competing his third turn of the course.

In the student vs. teacher race in the 1,000-meter Meek division, Maxi Braig defeated SSC coach Michael Villagomez with the former clocking in at 24:04 against the latter’s 24:14.

Matthew Klassen timed in at 25:34 for third overall, but was first among the four members of his family to finish the race. Father Rod recorded 29:43 to place 12th, while mother Karen and sibling Andrew posted identical times of 33:59.

Melanie Daly was the first female finisher in the 1,000m race with her time of 26:21.

Other participants in the shortest race of the day and their times were Bryce Daly (27:31), Kento Akimaru (27:32), Jeff Taylor (27:45), Joshua Berger (28:24), Shogo Ando (29:43), Lewie Tenorio (29:32), Fred Camacho (29:37), Ryu Tanzawa (33:54), Kathryn Barry (37:22).

Kieran Daly and Abigail Martinsen kept each other company in the 3,000-meter race and emerged the top two finishers in the Tweener division.

Daly and Martinsen appeared out of the water almost at the same time, but the older Daly reached the finish line on the PIC shore first at 46:22. Martinsen came in second, but was the first female finisher with her time of 46:22.

Other participants in the Tweener race were Suzy Kindell (52:56), Florian Braig (1:01:44), Keanna Villagomez (1:02:33), Tatiana Calvo (1:02:41), and Matthew Mancao (1:07:20).