Favored swimmers deliver

Swimmers head out to the course during last Sunday’s 39th Annual SSC Ocean Swim held in the waters near Naked Fish in Susupe. (Contributed Photo)

Saipan Swim Club’s Jinnosuke Suzuki and Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan’s Ashley Dangol lived up to high expectations after ruling their respective divisions during last Sunday’s 39th Annual SSC Ocean Swim held in the waters near Naked Fish in Susupe.

Jinnosuke, the favorite in the boys 11 to 12 age group, was first out of the water in the 1.3-kilometer course, completing the race in 17:12. He defeated Tsunami Saipan’s Isaiah Aleksenko (17:20) and Hans Xu (20:22), fellow SSC swimmers Anthony Camacho-Deleon Guerrero (19:05), Taiyo Akimaru (19:38), Mark Chavez (32:00) and Henry Wilcox (37:23), and Manhoben’s Israel Poppe (21:04).

In the girls division, Ashley led the finishers list after checking in at 19:25. SSC’s Jinie Thompson (22:13) and Palau’s Klei Andreas (22:14) were ranked second and third and were followed by Tsunami Saipan’s Shoko Litulumar (22:30), Palau’s Jamika Olterong (27:57), SSC’s Aoi Braxton (27:57), Typhoonz’s Keavae Murrie Adams (30:10), and SSC’s Jan Marini Millo (32:15).

In other results, Tsunami Saipan’s Aika Watanabe and Palau’s Jericho Maido placed ahead of the pack in their respective divisions. Watanabe completed the 2.6K race in the girls 13 to 14 age group in 57:13, while Maido also broke the one-hour barrier with his 50:45. Tsunami Saipan’s Juhn Tenorio and Nelson Batallones rounded out the Top 3 after posting 54:19 and 54:30, respectively, while SSC’s Sophia Gauran (1:02:47) and Palau’s Lolmei Uong (1:11:09) joined Watanabe in the podium for the girls class.

In the longest race of the day—the 5.2K—Akimaru was the No. 1 overall finisher and ruled the boys 15 to 24 age group after submitting 1:07:40. He was way ahead of second placer and Palau’s Gayman Malcolm Shae (1:12:43) and Pohnpei’s Kaleo Kihleng (1:13:55). In the girls division, Palau finished on top with Osisang Chilton clocking in at 1:16:07 and beating Manhoben’s Mineri Gomez (1:17:11) and SSC’s Jinju Thompson (1:20:05).

In the open division 1.3K course, Typhoonz Emily Bird was first out of the water at the 22:06 mark, while teammate Eva Gibson finished second overall after posting 31:28. Emily’s husband Kevin placed third overall and first in the men’s division after registering 33:34 and prevailing against Saipan’s Florence Antonio (34:03.09) and Ty Izuka (34:03.39).

In the men’s open 2.6K distance, Palau coach Billy Brown defeated all three Saipan swimmers after clocking in at 39:27. Colin Thompson was a distant second with his 50:26, while Manny Sitchon (1:20:18) and John Dax Moreno (1:15:15) were the other finishers in the division. In the women’s class, Dolphin Club Saipan’s Yulia Aleksenko won her duel against Manukai’s Mary Tarr, as the former recorded 1:07:56 against the latter’s 1:07:71.