5 Tsunami Saipan swimmers complete Tokyo Sprint stint

Tsunami Saipan swimmers pose for a group photo at the Tatsumi International Swimming Arena during the Tokyo Junior Sprint 2016 held in Japan early this month. (Contributed Photo)

Five Tsunami Saipan swimmers recorded respectable finishes in the Tokyo Junior Sprint 2016 held early this month at the Tatsumi International Swimming Arena in Japan.

Nelson Batallones was one of them, ranking at the top half of the boys 12 years old age group’ 50m freestyle after posting 31.09 seconds, which was good for No. 65 spot out of the 156 participants. In his other event—the 50m butterfly—Batallones clocked in at 34.20 seconds to place at No. 29 out of 75 swimmers.

Anthony Camacho joined the lower age group (10) and made it to the Top 20 in the 50m freestyle. His 32.63 seconds landed him at No. 17 out of 160 participants. In the 50m butterfly, he checked in at 25th out of 94 swimmers after registering 35.85 seconds.

In the boys 11 division, Juhn Tenorio was at the top half of both the 100m individual medley and 50m backstroke. In the shorter race—the 50m backstroke—Tenorio logged 36.20 seconds to rank at No. 31 out of 72 participants.

Team captain Aika Watanabe also competed in the 50m backstroke in the girls 12 division and her 37.42 seconds earned her the No. 42 spot out of 62 swimmers. In the 100m IM, she fared better, recording the 33rd best (out of 50) time after posting1:23.49.

Aika’s sister, Nanaka, raced in the 100m IM, too, in the girls 10 age group and finished at No. 39 out of 84 swimmers after completing the event in 1:27.95. In the 50m breaststroke, she was at No. 38 out of 130 participants after submitting 44 seconds.

All five missed making it to the finals where only the Top 8 qualified, but head coach Hiro Kimura is still proud of his swimmers.

“Tsunami swimmers showed their best performance. It was good to see them standing at the Tatsumi International Swimming Stadium. I am so proud of them and I know they will work harder next time to make it to the finals,” Kimura said.

Meanwhile, Tsunami Saipan would like to thank the following for supporting their off-island competition: Coral Ocean Point, representatives Ray Tebuteb, Edmund Villagomez, B.J. Attao, Larry Guerrero, Tony Benavente, Lee Pan Guerrero, Ed Propst, Ralph Yumul, J.P. Sablan, and Angel Demapan, senators Sixto Igisomar, Justo Quitugua, Jude Hofschneider, and Arnold Palacios, Pacific Islands Club, Tasi Tours, Mariana Resort, Coca-Cola Saipna, Java Joe, Kinpachi, World Resort, Aqua Resort, and Hyatt Regency Saipan.