11 events scheduled for Tsunami Saipan meet
The Tsunami Saipan Swimming Center-hosted meet next Saturday will be a short one as only 11 events are scheduled at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool in Marpi.
The host club will be holding (in order) the 100m butterfly, 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke, 50m freestyle, and 50m breaststroke races for the first part of the program, which will conclude with an exhibition race for the 25m backstroke event. Only the experienced swimmers will be allowed to compete in the 25m backstroke race.
For the second part of the meet, swimmers will race in the 100m freestyle, 200m individual medley, 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, and another exhibition swim-the 25m butterfly.
Races will start at 3:30pm and warm-ups will begin at 2:30pm.
Northern Marianas Swimming Federation is sanctioning the small meet, so Saipan Swim Club members can also join the weekend competition and times will be considered for inclusion in the CNMI swim record books.
“We have already sent an invitation and meet information to SSC coach Mike Villagomez,” said meet director and Tsunami Saipan head coach Hiro Kimura.
The July 14 meet will be the first official competition to be conducted at the Marpi pool after officials and volunteers of both clubs attended a FINA-sponsored clinic in April.
Volunteers/parents, who participated in the clinic, will help run the weekend meet. The list includes starter Ryota Ordonez, clerk of course Yuko Kimura, judges Daisuke Yanai and Bell Tan, turn judges Patty Staal and Ayumi Yanai, marshall Yoriko Sugie, timers Kaori Toda, Katherine Torres, and Miki Ordones, and head referee Hiro Kimura. NMSF president Josh Hirsh will also be on hand as representative of the local sanctioning body of the sport.
By Roselyn Monroyo
Reporter