31 challenge Meek and Mighty

A crowd of early risers met on the sand behind the Pacific Islands Club just after yesterday’s sunrise to challenge the placid lagoon waters in the inaugural Saipan Swim Club’s Meek and Mighty Swim.

SSC star Natasha Good was the first among the group of 14 determined swimmers who braved 1,000-meter lap around the Meek course with an impressive time of 14:49, though she was closely followed by second place finisher and fellow clubber Dominique Austin, at 14:53.

Suzy Kinzel of the Saipan Masters Nadadores was the third to reach the beach at 16:46, while fellow Nadadores Hillary Stevens (16:55) and Willie Garon (17:22) rounded out the top five.

Another SSC star took the 17 swimmer-field in the five-lap 5,000-m Mighty course around the buoys as Juan Camacho lapped the slower strokers with an overall time of 1:02:59.69. Camacho’s first lap was the fastest of the day as the boy wonder rounded the buoys and support kayaks in an amazingly swift 12:06.

Fellow SSC favorite Rezne Wong was never far behind and finished in second place with an overall time of 1:05:24.07, while Juan’s brother and rival Michael finished third overall with a five lap time of 1:05:46.24.

SSC tanker Minerva Cabrera (1:08:04.82) and multi-sport maven Stuart Smith (1:08:20.06) rounded out the upper crust, but SSC head coach and event coordinator Michael Stewart said that everyone was a winner for taking the plunge.

“I thought it went really well. The conditions were great and we had plenty of volunteers—which was the best part. The combination made me excited to do it again next year,” said Stewart.

The recently crowned CNMI Coach of the Year said that the event was originally scheduled to take place in the waters behind AJ Restaurant and Bistro, but he changed his mind due to safety concerns with the length of the course and the proximity of the water sports companies.

“I’m real appreciative that the PIC let us use the facilities. I just felt that their location was safer that the area around tanks given the extended time of our event,” he said.

For those who were unable to join the SSC in the water yesterday, there is another opportunity to do so next month as the Saipan Ocean Swim enters its 28th year on Sunday, March 19. More details and entry form will be made available in the near future, and participation is not limited to the swimmers as volunteers will be needed to record times and ensure the safety of the strokers atop kayaks.