Chentsova enters finals in 200m freestyle

The CNMI’s Victoria Chentsova made it to the medal round of the 200m freestyle race in the XV Pacific Games yesterday at the Taurama Aquatic Centre and Indoor Sports Complex in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

The CNMI’s Victoria Chentsova, seen here competing in a local meet, made it to the finals of the 200m freestyle relay event in the XV Pacific Games yesterday at the Taurama Aquatic Centre and Indoor Sports Complex in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Chentsova competed in the qualifying heat of the 200m freestyle event yesterday morning and finished third overall out of 16 swimmers after clocking in at 2:15.64. She was scheduled to swim in last night’s finals (results were unavailable at press time) against top qualifier and New Caledonia’s Lara Grangeon (2:10.44), Fiji’s Matelita Buarromo (2:10.74), New Caledonia’s Lea Ricarrere (2:16.11), Fiji’s Tieri Erasito (2:16.44), New Caledonia’s Ylenka Maurin (2:17.08), Fiji’s Brooke Smith (2:19.21), and Papua New Guinea’s Anna-Liza Jane (2:20.91).

Besides advancing into the finals, Chentsova also set a new personal best time, surpassing her previous record of 2:18.64.

The Saipan International School graduate had two events in Day 2 of the swimming competition, finishing the 50m backstroke in 35.81, which is better than her PBT of 36.50 seconds. After two days of action in the pool, Chentsova has earned three new PBTS, marking her first last Monday in the 100m freestyle (1:04.31).

Chentsova’s teammates—Angel De Jesus and Takumi Sugie—also raced yesterday. De Jesus submitted 2:33.35 in the 200m freestyle and 39.35 seconds in the 50mbackstroke. Sugie had only one event in Day 2, clocking in at 1:08.7 in the 100m butterfly.

“We are finally getting into the groove after the first day of competition. The swimmers are getting more comfortable with the format of prelims in the morning and finals in the evening,” CNMI swim coach Jacoby Winkfield said in an email to Saipan Tribune yesterday.

“The team swam well with some personal bests. It was good to get out and finally race. It is great being here and seeing all the other Pacific island nations, racing against them, making friends, and learning to swim at a high level,” Winkfield added.

The coach also shared his wards experience during the elaborated opening ceremony last Saturday and their observations at the Athletes Village.

“The opening ceremony was amazing. There was a bit of a wait prior to entering the stadium, the opening, but when we got into the stadium, the atmosphere was electric. Being there with so many nations, the spectators, along with the cultural performances made the evening to remember,” Sugie was quoted as saying in the same email Winkfield sent to Saipan Tribune.

“The village is a brand new facility and I enjoy the fact that there are several countries living in one area so we can get a chance to interact and hang out with athletes from other countries. It’s a home away from home,” De Jesus said.

Meanwhile, results of the CNMI va’a and sailing teams have yet to be posted at the Pacific Games website after two days of competition. However, the Top 3 finishers in the two events in va’a last Monday were already named. Tahiti won the gold both in the 500m and 1,500m races. Cook Islands and Guam completed the podium finish in the 500m, while New Caledonia and Wallis & Futuna joined Tahiti in the Top 3 in the 1,500m event.

Va’a competition has two days left (July 9 and 10), excluding yesterday’s races, while sailing will run until July 11.

In other news, host PNG is still ahead in the medal standings with its 13 golds, four silvers, and four bronzes. Australia moved from third to second with its 6-13-5 tally, while New Caledonia dropped to third with its 5-3-5 haul. Samoa (4-8-0) and Fiji (4-4-7) complete the Top 5.