Previous Story
42 sign up for Saturday’s ‘Escape’
|
Posted on May 02 2012
By Mark Rabago
Associate Editor
Associate Editor
A total of 42 intrepid swimmers so far have signed up for this Saturday’s 9th Annual Escape from Managaha.
The Saipan Swim Club said the usual cadre of club swimmers will take part in the 2.4-kilometer open water swim from the tourist hotspot to Micro Beach at the American Memorial Park.
SSC said senior swimmers Victoria Chentsova and Kento Akimaru are the favorites to win the event.
The two, however, are expected to encounter stiff competition from Ed Ewing and Jeff El-Hajj.
Ewing previously swam for a masters group in San Francisco, California, while El-Hajj is a former water polo player at the University of Southern California.
SSC said former members Jennifer Pierce and Vincent Seman as well as SSC head coach Mike Villagomez have also again accepted the challenge of the Escape from Managaha.
Last year, 34 swimmers ranging in ages between eight and 66 completed the swim across the channel with Lennosuke Suzuki and Taiga Sato as the youngest competitors.
Both will be repeating the swim this year along with SSC’s 6-year-old swimmers-Taiyo Akimaru and Jinnosuke Suzuki. The latter two who will attempt their first crossing with SSC associate coach Mieko Carey.
The club said members and guest swimmers will surely make it a full Sun Rider on the trip to Managaha early this coming Saturday.
Last year, Kento Akimaru beat out 32 other swimmers to win the 2011 Escape from Managaha. He completed the swim in 40 minutes and 4.21 seconds.
The late registration fee for the Escape from Managaha Island, payable to Saipan Swim Club, is $25 which includes a boat ride to Managaha.
However, registration for the morning of the event will be on a space-available basis. Participants and kayakers are asked to be at Smiling Cove boat ramp near DPS Boating and Safety by 5:30am.
The swim begins at 6:30am with the fastest swimmers making landfall around 7:10am. Wet suits, fins, snorkels, and buoys may be used. But swimmers must be able to make it through the channel by 9am.
Friends and family can await swimmers at the finish line at Micro Beach between the playground and Bell Tower. For more information, email SSC official Suzy Kindel suzykindel@yahoo.com.
