SSC swimmers to race in 3 off-island tourneys

Saipan Swim Club swimmers pose for a photo after a training session at Paupau Beach this week. (Contributed Photo)

Saipan Swim Club members are still resolute despite the continued closure of the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool, as instead of sulking over the lack of a suitable venue, they are preparing to compete in three regional tournaments in the first half of the year.

According to SSC coach Jacoby Winkfield, they will first participate in the inaugural Micronesian Swimming Championships that Palau will be hosting from April 4 to 7. The tournament is very timely, as the club has yet to compete in a tournament (at swimming pool) since the facility in Marpi shut down last Sept. 30. Had the 50-meter pool remained open, SSC would have been preparing to host the international invitational meet, which in the past was held late March with Palau, Guam, the Marshall Islands, the Pohnpei swimmers coming over to Saipan to challenge CNMI swimmers. In the regional tournament in Palau in April, SSC members will be pitted against swimmers that have been racing in the invitational meet.

After the competition in Palau, SSC swimmers, which trains in the waters off Paupau Beach, will suit up for the CNMI Team that will see action in the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa. Swimming (pool and ocean) will run from July 9 to 13 at the Samoa Aquatic Centre at the Faleata Sports Complex.

Then just a week after the races in Samoa, SSC swimmers will compete in the 2019 World Swimming Championships (long course) in Gwangju, South Korea from July 21 to 28.

Meek & Mighty Ocean Swim at Kanoa Resort
Meanwhile, the 14th SSC Meek and Mighty Ocean Swim will be held this Saturday in the waters off Kanoa Resort.

The club is encouraging swimmers (all ages) to support the weekend event, as proceeds from the tournament will go to SSC swimmers that will participate in three off-island competitions.

Pre-registration can be done by emailing Saipanswimclub@gmail.com., while race day signup is from 6am to 6:45am, and the first race will kick off at 7am. Pre-registration fee is only $10, while race day’s is $15.

Swimmers can enter in one of the four courses: 50 meters (minnow and no registration fee) 750m (meek division/two loops), 1,500m (tweener), and 2,250m (mighty/three loops).

“This event is a great tuneup for triathletes participating in the Tagaman, as well as for beginner swimmers,” Winkfield said.