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Akimaru leads SSC 10K swim
Saipan Swim’s Club members brace for the start of the Winter Swim race held in the waters off West Coast Restaurant last Dec. 24. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Budapest FINA World Championship veteran Taiyo Akimaru topped Saipan Swim’s Club’s 100×100 race held in the waters off West Coast Restaurant last Dec. 24.
The 11th grader from Marianas High School completed the 10-kilometer open water swim in 02:44.43.
Akimaru said despite the almost freezing conditions, swimming the 100×100 was “very fun.”
“I felt good swimming and topping the 10K swim. Just did my best to keep my pace steady to not let anyone overlap me,” he said.
Jakey Deleon came second in the race, dubbed the Winteer Swim for obvious reasons, after reaching the beach in 02:52.15, while closing out the Top 3 was Michael Miller in 02:55.02.
The rest of the swimmers that took part in the long distance race were Moshe Sikkel (03:06.51), Jinie Thompson (03:07.36), and Savita Sikkel (03:19.31).
In the 100×50 race, Matthew Szefler was first in 01:49.37, followed by Jack Raho (01:56.65) and ZenoIwami (01:58.18)
The rest of the swimmers who tested their endurance in the 5K swim were Tristan Raho (02:00.41), Piper Raho (02:03.35), and Nagi Tenorio (02:03.43).
And last but not the least, 11-year-old Sofia Cariaso won the 50×50 race after she emerged from the surf in 01:24.52. P.J. Seman came in second in 01:36.44 2, while Mia Camacho came in third in 01:36.52.
The rest of the tadpoles in the 2.5K swim were Adele Raho (01:49.35), Scarlett Burrel (01:49.35), and Gabriel Carcass (01:54.10 5).
SSC head coach Richard Sikkel said he’s happy that the club was able to finish 2022 strong by holding the open water long distance swim last Christmas Eve.
“Our B, BB, and junior and senior swimmers completed their last long distance open water swim of 2022 last Dec. 24 to cap the year!” he said.
Founded by CNMI Sports Hall of Famers Bill and Jean Sakovich in 1974, SSC is an age group swim club on Saipan that practices year round and participates in local and off-island meets.
