Tenorio enters finals anew, gets PB

Juhn Tenorio is in the finals of the 50m backstroke event in the XVI Pacific Games in Samoa. (Saipan Tribune)

Swimmer Juhn Tenorio recorded two accomplishments yesterday at the continuation of the pool action in the XVI Pacific Games at the Samoa Aquatic Centre in Apia.

The 15-year-old earned his second finals appearance in the swimming competition after making the grade in the qualifying races in the 50m backstroke event, as he clocked in at 29.56 seconds on Heat 2. Tenorio finished third in his group behind Tahiti’s Taiki Dupont (27.68 seconds) and Tonga’s Finau Ohuafi (29.08 seconds).

On top of advancing to the gold medal swim, the CNMI bet also set a personal best, surpassing his previous mark of 29.68 seconds. The finals took place last night and results were unavailable as off press time. New Caledonia’s Julien Goyetche (27.36 seconds) and Shenin Mathis (29.47 seconds), Fiji’s Netani Ross (27.44 seconds), and Samoa’s Kokoro Frost (28.71 seconds) were the other qualifiers in the gold medal race. David Boyer was the other Commonwealth swimmer entered in the sprint event and timed in at 36.61 seconds to beat three Vanuatu entries.

In the women’s 50m backstroke, Aika Watanabe and Jinju Thompson registered 35.42 seconds and 36.93 seconds, respectively, while Sophia Gauran raced in the 100m butterfly and logged 1:18:17. Boyer and Lennosuke Suzuki also did the 100m butterfly swim and were ranked No. 16 and 17, respectively, in the qualifying heats.

Meanwhile, in last Tuesday’s gold medal races, Watanabe finished fifth with a time of 2:48.34, while Thompson placed seventh after recording 2:56.06. Gauran was also in seventh spot in the women’s 200m breaststroke finale after tallying 3:29.32, while Tenorio came in at sixth in the same distance after posting 2:26.63.

In other tournaments, Kalea Andrew finished sixth in the V-1’s 500m gold medal race yesterday, while Tyce and Logan Mister were swept by Kiribati in beach volleyball last Tuesday.

Badminton team event wraps up
Nathan Guerrero and Jordan Pangilinan spoiled Tonga’s bid to sweep the CNMI after beating Renaey Naaniumotu and Taniela Ngaue in the men’s doubles play, 21-17, 21-12, at the conclusion of the badminton team event yesterday.

Earlier in the mixed doubles and women’s singles, Lauti Naaniumotu and Litea Tatafu downed Andreau Galvez and Janelle Pangilinan, 21-15, 21-16, and Lata Isitolo topped Nicole Malasarte, 21-18, 21-13, to give Tonga a 2-0 lead. Tonga also took the men’s singles with Lauti edging Galvez, 21-13, 19-21, 21-18, and the women’s doubles (Isitolo and Tatafu outclassing Malasarte and Pangilinan, 21-15, 19-21, 21-10).

With the 4-1 victory and a 3-3 record Tonga finished the event at No. 4, while the CNMI slid to fifth place with a 2-4 record.

Fiji won the gold, beating New Caledonia and Tahiti in the tiebreak. The three teams finished the round-robin tournament with similar 5-1 marks, but Fiji notched first place after winning 25 matches against the 24 of New Caledonia and 23 of No. 1 seed Tahiti. Tahiti settled for the bronze as it was defeated by New Caledonia in the last game yesterday, 3-1, while Fiji stole the gold following a sweep of Kiribati and Samoa in the final day of the competition.