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33 complete Plumeria Swim
Kaito Yanai led 32 other finishers in Marianas Visitors Authority’s (MVA) 1st Annual Plumeria Swim (formerly the Saipan International Open Water Flipper Tournament) held late last month at Pau Pau Beach.
Participants in last month’s Marianas Visitors Authority’s (MVA) 1st Annual Plumeria Swim at Pau Pau Beach pose for a photo before the race. (Contributed Photo)
Local dancers perform before the start of Marianas Visitors Authority’s (MVA) 1st Annual Plumeria Swim at Pau Pau Beach last month. (Contributed Photo)
Yanai clocked in at 23:54 in the 1.5K race to rule the men’s division, while Angel Marie Tan repeated her 2014 winning form to place first in the women’s division with a time of 24:59. Thirty-three participants from Japan, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands joined the 1.5K race event, with another 12 joining the 500m and 1.5K group swim.
Yanai was followed in the men’s division by Takumi Sugie (23:55) and Mark Maestro (26:10). Tan was followed by Sophia Klair Gauran and Kyona Rivera (27:26) and Aika Watabanbe (28:38).
“We’re very happy with the results of the festival. Everything went smoothly, and the participants had a safe and enjoyable time,” said Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) Managing Director Perry Tenorio.
In the junior division, the winners were Isaiah Aleksenko (28:57) for ages 10 and under and Nelson Jay Batallones (31:10) for ages 11-12. In the female junior division, the winners were Ayumi Obligacion (35:10) for ages 10 and under, Kathrine Illahi (33:52) for ages 13- 15, and Angel Felice De Jesus (29:23) for ages 16-18.
Other first place finishers were Harry Choi (28:29) for ages 19-29 male; Shinji Takayama (32:17) for ages 30-39; Hiroshi Tanaka (00:32:01) for ages 40-49; Haruko Furugori (39:28) for ages 40-49 female; Motoko Kubo (30:28) for ages 50-59; and Takachi (30:59) for ages 60 and up.
Takako Ishizuka (11:00) was the first finisher in the 500m, while Yayoi Kabata (24:48) topped the 1.5K swim.
The race was followed by an awards ceremony and breakfast on the beach.
The event was jointly organized by the MVA and the Community Sports Center Foundation of Japan. Sponsors and supporters include: Let’s Go! Tour, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, World Resort Saipan, McDonald’s Saipan, Detry Pumping Service, Saipan Advertising, Pacific Development Inc., Department of Public Safety, Boating Safety/EMS, Emma Perez, Peter Perez, Mobby’s, Tusa Reef Tourer by Tabata, Gull, Super VAAM, Bism, SAS, Marine Diving, and Northern Marianas Diving Operators Association. (MVA)
