SSC swimmers bring home trophies

Three Saipan Swim Club members returned home with trophies and three others won medals after competing in the 2012 Guam Championship held at the Hagatna Pool over the weekend.

Kento Akimatu, Victoria Chentsova, and Taiga Sato each won third place trophies in their respective age groups to lead SSC’s successful campaign in the two-day tournament.

The 11-year-old Akimaru topped two events and finished second in three other races to earn 39 points and place in the Top 3 in the 11 to 12 age group. He ruled the 100m freestyle (1:08.33), beating Guam’s Tanner Poppe (1:09.24) and Kai Aricayos (1:12.73) and the 400m freestyle (5:08.99), downing Aricayos (5:09.69). Akimaru’s runner-up finishes came from the 50m breaststroke (40.81 seconds), 200m freestyle (2:28.16), and the 50m freestyle (31.80 seconds).

Duplicating Akimaru’s third place finish was Chentsova, who joined the girls 13 to 14 age group and collected 37 points. The 14-year-old Chentsova won the 200m freestyle (2:24.16) against Guam’s Sahyay Limtiaco (2:46.83) and Lorelei Poppe (2:50.19) and placed second in four other events—100m freestyle (1:05.85/personal best), 100m backstroke (1:19.54), 50m backstroke (37.82 seconds), and the 50m freestyle (30.83 seconds). Chentsova also joined forces with Tsunami Saipan’s Miku Tammy, Angel Tan, and Angel De Jesus in the 200m medley relay and timed in at 2:26.36, just less than two seconds behind the Guam record (2:25.29).

Sato also had 37 points for third place in the U10 division after placing third in the 100m breaststroke (1:52.67), fifth in the 100m freestyle (1:26.63), fourth in the 100m freestyle (3:03.07), first in the 400m freestyle (6:28.78) and 200m IM (3:37.62), and fifth in the 50m freestyle (41.37 seconds). Nine-year-old Sato made three new personal best times, including a 20-second drop from his previous PBT in the 400m.

Three other 9-year-old SSC swimmers—Lennosuke Suzuki, Naoki Kasai, and Rinto Takahashi—joined the Guam meet and won medals in their respective races. Suzuki was runner-up in the 100m breaststroke (1:47.33/PBT) third in 100m butterfly (1:59.92), 200m freestyle (2:51.89), and 50m breaststroke (49.67 seconds), and sixth in the 100m backstroke (1:47.80). Kasai ruled the 100m breaststroke (1:44.87/PBT) and finished second in the 50m breaststroke (48.06), while Takahashi was runner-up in the 200m IM (3:41:13) and 50m backstroke (46.21 seconds) and fourth in the 100m backstroke (1:42.47). All three and Sato also raced in the 200m freestyle event and placed second with a time of 2:44.53.

Meanwhile, SSC president Robert Torres congratulated the seven swimmers and coach Mieko Carey for a job well done.

“Victoria Chentsova, Kento Akimaru, and Taiga Sato placed in the Top 3 overall despite a strong field of swimmers from several clubs on Guam. The talented and spirited 9-year-old crew of SSC swimmers also did very well. Coach Mieko urged and inspired the kids to do their best and be their best and they came through. SSC would like to thank the Tan Siu Lin Foundation for their assistance in arranging for the swimmers’ stay at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Guam,” Torres said.