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Akimaru sets new PBT, tops 2.5K race
Saipan Swim Club’s Kento Akimaru runs out of the water during the 2.5K race in last Sunday’s 37th Annual Saipan Ocean Swim. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Saipan Swim Club’s Kento Akimaru completed the 2.5-kilometer course in last Sunday’s 37th Annual Saipan Ocean Swim with the fastest time.
The 15-year-old swimmer finished the two-lap race in 33:51 to emerge as the top finisher among the 26 individuals who conquered the longest course in the event held in the waters near Naked Fish. Akimaru’s time in last weekend’s race was better than his 2014 record (35:18).
The SSC member won a close battle against Palau’s Noel Keane, who reached the finish line at the 34:02 mark. Akimaru also defeated five other swimmers in the boys 15 to 19 age groups, while Keane topped the 13 to 14 division. The Marianas High School student prevailed against Tsunami Saipan’s Takumi Sugie (34:55), fellow SSC teammates Christian Villacrusis (35:06) and David Boyer (38:52), Von Adrian Labayan (38:39) and Palau’s Keemo Kanai (45:02). Keane, on the other hand, beat SSC’s Taiga Sato (35:23) and R.J. Pierce (39:29), Tsunami Saipan’s Mark Maestro (35:27), and compatriot Malcolm Shae Gaymann (38:08).
Meanwhile, other top age group finishers in the 2.5K event were Miku Tammy, Angel Marie Tan, Tiffany Lin, Osisang Chilton, Billy Brown, Vener Urena, Joshua Berger, and Carol Lynn Pierce.
Tammy was the first female to complete the race after clocking in at 37:53. The Tsunami Saipan swimmer won the girls 13 to 14 age group, downing SSC’s Jinju Thompson (39:33). Tan of SSC was the second women’s finisher and first in the 15 to 19 division after clocking in at 37:59. She placed ahead of Palau’s Dirngulbai Misech (38:08) and Roylin Akiwo (40:12) and Tsunami Saipan’s Angel De Jesus (39:09).
Brown, who is the coach of the Palau team, took the top honors in the men’s 30 to 39 age group after submitting 39:36 and prevailing against Saipan’s Nap Dizon (55:09). Urena registered 42:15 to win the 40 to 49 division against Ricky Castro (58:23) and Ernie Moises (1:00:16), while Chilton (38:26), Lin (58:40), Carol Lyn (48:39), and Berger (58:14), raced unopposed in the 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 50 to 59, and over 60 age groups, respectively.
