3 swimmers stand out

A lengthy absence from a long-course event did not prevent three Swimming Center Tsunami Saipan members from excelling in the Guam Swimming Federation Meet last Saturday in Hagatna.

Juhn Tenorio, Jinnosuke Suzuki, and Isaiah Aleksenko had impressive races in their first competition of the year

Aleksenko timed in at 2:30.00 in the 200m butterfly for a new CNMI age group record (unofficial, pending confirmation from the Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation) in the boys 13 to 14 division. His mark also earned him an AA grade (U.S. national age group motivational times, with AAAA the highest). Aleksenko, who last raced in a long course meet more than a year ago (May 2018), did the 100m butterfly, too and his 1:06.65 also got him a new record and AA time.

In the 200m freestyle, Suzuki posted a new record in the 13 to 14 age group after submitting 2:08.15, which is good for an AAA grade. Suzuki, whose last long course event was in June 2018, also joined the 50m freestyle and his 26.87 seconds was the fourth overall best time in the competition and gave him another AAA mark.

Tenorio completed the 50m freestyle race, too, in the 15 to 16 age group and finished third overall after registering 26.69 seconds (AAA grade). Then in the 100m backstroke, the Tsunami Saipan swimmer, who participated in the FINA World Championships (long course) in South Korea last summer, had the fastest time in the field 1:05. 27 (AAA mark).

“Despite not being able to compete in a long-course meet for a long time, these three swimmers did an excellent job in Guam,” Tsunami Saipan head coach Hiro Kimura said.

He also commended Asaka and Shoko Litulumar, Joseph Zhang, and David Roberto for their notable performances despite a long absence from a long course meet. All four last swam in a 50-meter pool and also competed in a tournament on Guam in May 2018.

Asaka tallied 1:09.08 in the girls 13 to 14’s 100m freestyle for the second best time in field. She had the same feat in the 50m freestyle after clocking in at 31.81 seconds.

Asaka’s younger sister, Shoko, posted 1:26.50 in the 100m backstroke for the second best in the 11 to 12 age group, while her 3:14.32 in the 200m breaststroke got her an AA time.

Zhang, who joined the races for the 15 to 16 age group, achieved a BB time in the 50m breaststroke (37.45 seconds), while Roberto earned an A time in the 100m freestyle (1:03.32).

Meanwhile, Tsunami Saipan thanked the management and staff of Pacific Islands Club for allowing its swimmers to continue training at their pool. The group also acknowledged the help of Aqua Resort Club.

“Without their support, Tsunami Saipan swimmers will not get these impressive results,” Kimura said.