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Tammy, Dangol set age group marks
Tsunami Saipan Swimming Center members registered the three age group records made in last month’s 2014-2015 SSC Pentathlon Swim Meet at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool.
Tsunami Saipan’s Miku Tammy, left, and Ashley Dangol pose for a photo during a break in the training session at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool last week. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Eight-year-old Ashley Dangol owned two of those records. Her first came in the U8 division’s 50m backstroke, as she timed in at 43.69 seconds, eclipsing the 45.39 seconds, which she logged on Oct. 1, 2014. She also ruled the race, finishing ahead of fellow Tsunami Saipan swimmers Kana Suzuki (56.32 seconds) and Shaunalyn Babauta (1:00.73).
Dangol earned her second age group record in the 50m freestyle as she clocked in at 37.04 seconds, surpassing the more than 10-year mark of Saipan Swim Club’s Jellian Majors, who tallied 38.97 on March 22, 2004.
Besides the 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke, Dangol also raced in the 50m butterfly and 50m breaststroke and won both events, too en route to taking the top honors in the age group. Her 39.49 seconds in the 50m butterfly broke her personal best time of 41.69 seconds and bested Suzuki’s 53.79 second and Babauta’s 1:12.09.
In the 50m breaststroke, she timed in at 55.33 seconds, missing a PBT (55.25 seconds), but was good enough to beat Suzuki (1:03.61) and Babauta (1:04.33) anew. With her four first place finishers, Dangol collected 36 points (9 per each first place finish) to prevail against Suzuki (28) and Babauta (24).
Meanwhile, Miku Tammy joined Dangol on the short list of age group record breakers last month. The 12-year old swimmer completed the 50m butterfly race in 32.28 seconds, shattering the old mark (32.54) she registered on March 22, 2014 in the 11 to 12 division contest of the 2014 Saipan Swim Club International Meet.
Tammy went on to beat five other swimmers in the individual rankings after gaining 43 points. She earned the remaining 34 markers from the 50m backstroke (first, 35.92 seconds), 50m breaststroke (second, 48.03), 50m freestyle (first, 31.93 seconds), and 200m individual medley (first, 2:50.96). Tammy ruled the 11 to 12 age group against teammates Sophia Gauran (37) and Aika Watanabe (37) and SSC’s Conatu Kaga (25), Jin Ju Thompson (20), and Jasmin Frink (15).
