Jinnosuke, Jin Ju prevail

Saipan Swim Club’s Jinnosuke Suzuki and Jin Ju Thompson emerged as the top finishers in the three-loop race of last Saturday’s SSC Meek and Mighty Ocean Swim held in the waters off Pacific Islands Club.

Nine-year-old Suzuki completed the more than one-kilometer course in 40:31 to place first overall and beat eight other male finishers, including several adult participants. Eleven-year-old Thompson came in second overall and first in the women’s field after clocking in at 40:35.

Jinnosuke Suzuki, left, and Jin Ju Thompson moves out of the water during last Saturday’s SSC Meek and Mighty Ocean Swim at the Pacific Islands Club. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Suzuki and Thompson finished ahead of Kaoru Takahashi (46:37), Tamio Nishikido (47:35), Tony Stearns (48:41), Suzy Kindel (48:51), Salofi Welch (50:30), Atsuko Sato (52:28), Joshua Berger (52:28), Kimiko McKagan (1:02:49), Rich Villagomez (1:03:07), and Tomomi Sato.

Besides the three-loop contest, two other races took place last Saturday with 18 joining the one-loop event and seven completing the five-loop course.

Conatsu Kaga ruled the female division in the one-loop course after submitting 13:08, while Kento Akimaro complete the race using the butterfly stroke and still topped the male’s field with his 13:12. Lennosuke Suzuki also utilized his butterfly stroke and came in seventh overall after logging 15:25.

Other finishers in the one-loop race were Rintaro Miyawaki (14:07), Taiyo Akimaru (14:08), Daino Sato (14:15), Coume Kaga (14:17), Akira (15:26) and Wataru (15:30) Kadokura, Jinie Thompson (17:13), Ayumi Kaga (17:52), Tiffany Lin (19:14), Mamiko Berger (19:24), Goshi Sato (21:29), Yumiko Mizuno (24:41), Susana (24:59) and Nieves (27:28) Villagomez.

In the longest race of the day, 2014 Micronesian Games gold medalist Victoria Chentsova bested six others. She completed the five-loop course under one hour after recording 59:12 and surviving a jellyfish sting on her way for the last loop.

Christian Villacrusis was also stung by the jellyfish, but still broke the one-hour barrier after tallying 59:45.

VIllacrusis and Chentsova finished ahead of Taiga Sato (1:04:49), David Boyer (1:10:36), Carolyn Pierce (1:20:50), Gary De Guzman (1:25:27), and SSC president Emma Perez (1:37:47).

Meanwhile, SSC would like to thank Pacific Islands Club Saipan, Glenn Policare and other PIC staff, and Powerade/Coca-Cola for supporting the weekend event.