Kento, Jinnosuke show way in Hawaii ocean swim

Saipan Swim Club’s Jinnosuke Suzuki heads to the finish line of the third leg of the North Shore Swim Series held yesterday in Hawaii. (Contributed Photo)

Two Saipan Swim Club earned top honors in the in the third leg of the North Shore Swim Series held yesterday in Hawaii.

Kento Akimaru was the top overall finishers among the 381 individuals who completed the 1.8-mile swim from Jaco’s Chun to Waimea Bay in Oahu after timing in at 33:17.6. The 16-year-old SSC member won the men’s open division race, beating Kailua’s Jonathan Rieter (33:59.9) and Honolulu’s Luis Saulny (34:29.8).

Kento’s fellow SSC swimmer, Jinnosuke Suzuki, on the other hand, ruled the men’s 11 to 12 age group race after submitting 35:34.1. The 11-year-old Jinnosuke was the lone swimmer in his division to finish the swim under 40 minutes, as runner-up Knut Robinson came in at the 43:21 mark. Kento’s brother, Taiyo, rounded out the Top 3 after clocking in at 45:06.8, while Kailua’s Ryan Stader was at distant fourth with his 53:58.6. Jinnosuke was sixth overall in the rankings, while Taiyo was at No. 103.

In the men’s 13 to 14 age group, Jinnosuke’s sibling, Lennosuke, placed second behind Kailua’s Kai West. The older Suzuki posted 37:23.4, the 22nd best in the entire field and just less than a minute behind West (36:56.5). Jaxon Miller and Caleb Merillat also competed in the same division and timed in at 53:54.6 and 54:14.3, respectively.

In the 15 to 19 age group, Christian Villacrusis made it to the podium as his 37:11.3 gave him the third place finish in the division. David Boyer came in next with his age group fourth best 37:26.6. Sean Duval-Arnould won the group with his 35:23.9, while Taiyo Ando took the runner-up spot after recording 36:57.

Meanwhile, the Thompsons—Jinju and Jinie and their father Colin—also completed the third leg of the series. Jinju was the best finisher in the family with her 46:40.7 (fifth in the 13 to 14 division), while Jinie also beat their father after checking in at 53:52.5 (fourth in the 11 to 12 age group). Colin logged 57:52.5

The North Shore Swim Series is a highly anticipated ocean swim in Oahu every summer and offers five races in different locations for both competitive and recreational swimmers. The first leg was held last June 10 and was dubbed as the Aloha Salads Summer Sprint with its one-mile course from Sunset Beach to Ehukai Beach Park. The second took place last June 24 and featured a 1.2-mile course, with the starting line at Cholo’s and the same finish line at Waimea Bay Swim. The fourth will be held on July 22 and features a 1.9-mile course starting at Laniakea beach swimming via Haleiwa town en route to Pua’ena Point surf break. For the last leg—the Jamba Juice North Shore Challenge scheduled for Aug. 5, swimmers will tackle the 2.3-mile course that starts at Ehukai Beach Park and ends at the coast west of Waimea Bay.