Kimura to coach CNMI swimmers in Tokyo meet

Kimura

The Northern Marianas Islands Swimming Federation has appointed Hiroyuki Kimura as the head coach of the CNMI National Swimming Team for next month’s 20th FINA World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

Kimura was selected during a NMISF board meeting held last May 30 at MangoSix in DanDan. 

“I’m honored by it but feel a huge responsibility as a head coach. The duty of a head coach is to bring up all swimmer’s best performance there. Already I have started to focus on how to train Team NMI to become stronger. We still have about five weeks before Fukuoka. So, I can have our four swimmers train enough,” he said.

Earlier, NMISF chose Isaiah Aleksenko, Jakey Deleon Guerrero, Maria Batallones, and Shoko Litulumar as the four swimmers the CNMI will be sending to this year’s FINA World Championships.

Kimura also disclosed the events the four will take part in during the Tokyo meet—Aleksenko the 50m backstroke and 100m butterfly, Deleon Guerrero the 50m breaststroke and 100m breaststroke, Batallones 50m breaststroke and 50m butterfly, and Litulumar 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle. 

All four will also see action in the 100×4 mixed medley relay and the 100×4 mixed freestyle relay.

As for his expectations for each swimmer, Kimura is looking for Aleksenko not only breaking CNMI records but also wants the 17-year-old Marianas High School student to achieve FINA-B times. 

“None of our CNMI swimmers can reach that,” he said.

There is a high possibility, meanwhile, for Deleon Guerrero to  challenge the CNMI record in the 100m breaststroke, according to Kimura. 

Ditto for  Litulumar breaking the CNMI 15-16 CNMI age group record in the 50m backstroke.  

“Though swimming in short course time, she was already close to breaking the CNMI age group record last year. Depending on how hard she works these next five weeks, I believe she will make it.”

For Batallones, Kimura said her goal is eclipsing the CNMI national record in the 50m breaststroke.

“There is such a high possibility for it because her short course time is already two seconds faster than the CNMI national record,” he said.

In the relays, Kimura said their target is to emerge as the No. 1 team among entries from Micronesia.

“I’m always excited when it comes to the relay races,” he said.

NMISF president Colin Thompson and vice president John Hirsh and Christian Villacrusis could also join the team in Tokyo, if their schedules allow.