12 reset PBTs in 200m IM

Saipan Swim Club and Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan swimmers capped the 2014-2015 SSC Pentathlon Swim Meet by marking 12 personal best times in the 200m individual medley.

Saipan Swim Club’s Rintaro Miyawaki does the breaststroke part of the 200m individual medley in last month’s 2014-2015 SSC Pentathlon Swim Meet at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Tsunami Saipan’s Nanaka Watanabe led the list of swimmers who earned PBTs in the final event of the tournament held last month at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool. Completing the list were Nanaka’s sister Aikawa and teammates Sophia Gauran, Juhn Tenorio, Anthony Camacho-Deleon Guerrero, Nelson Batallnes, Jhota Yoshino, Kyona Rivera, and Katherine Illahi and SSC’s Jinnosuke Suzuki, Rintaro Miyawaki, Taiyo Akimaru, and Taiga Sato.

Nanaka raced in the girls 9 to 10 division and clocked in 3:24.15 to surpass her old PBT of 3:33.41. She finished ahead of SSC’s Coume Kaga (3:39.12), Jinie Thompson (4:05.80) and Ayaka Sato (4:49.40) and fellow Tsunami Saipan swimmers Natsuki Nagata (4:04.84) and Ayumi Obligacion (4:45.13).

In the girls 11 to 12, Gauran and Aika submitted 3:05.06 and 3:19.99, respectively to eclipse their previous PBTs of 3:11.32 and 3:27.46. Miku Tammy also of Tsunami Saipan ruled the event with her 2:50.96, but missed beating her PBT (2:46.38), while SSC’s Conatsu Kaga (3:22.24), Jin Ju Thompson (3:35.46), and Jasmin Frink (4:13.48) did the timed race for the first time.

In the girls 13 to 14, Kyona Rivera timed in at 3:13.36 to chop off more than seven seconds from her old PBT (3:26.45), while Illahi had over an 11-minute drop with her 3:49.63 (from 4:01.79). Angel De Jesus and Daime River, who were in the 15 to 16 and over 17 age group, were on the same heat and logged 3:00.37 (from PBT of 2:56.60) and 3:30.59 (3:29.51).

In the boys division, Jinnosuke Suzuki topped the 9 to 10 age group with his PBT of 3:10.08, more than 12 seconds from his old mark (3:22.60). Runner-up Tenorio also set a PBT (3:12.42 from 3:23.17), while Camacho-Deleon Guerrero, who placed third in the race, had the same feat with his 3:14.95 (from 3:49.66). Akimaru was the fourth swimmer in the division to mark a PBT (4:01.65).

In the 11 to 12 division, Taiga Sato placed second behind Lennosuke Suzuki (2:57.92), but his 3:03.08 was way better than his old PBT (3:12.14). Battalones and Yoshino also earned PBTs after timing in at 3:14.08 and 3:30.07, respectively.

Other swimmers who raced in the final event of the meet were SSC’s Rinto Takahashi (3:15.91), R.J. Pierce (3:37.11), Christian Villacrusis (2:51.54), and David Boyer (3:23.65) and Tsunami Saipan’s Kaito Yanai (2:26.13).

Meek & Mighty Swim Saturday
Meanwhile, the 9th SSC Meek & Mighty Ocean Swim will be held this Saturday in the waters off Pacific Islands Club.

Registration will start at 7am, while the race will kick off at 8am. Entry fee is only $10 with the first 30 to sign up getting one PIC waterpark pass each. Participants can choose from the three courses: 1K, 3K, and 5K.

For more information, contact saipanswimclub@gmail.com.