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Akimaru, Villacrusis gain first place honors
From left, Saipan Swim Club coach Jacoby Winkfield, Kento Akimaru, David Boyer, Christian Villacrusis, and Jinju Thompson pose for a photo after competing in the 2017 Guam Swimming Championships held over the weekend at the Hagatna Pool. (Contributed Photo)
Saipan Swim Club’s Kento Akimaru and Christian Villacrusis stood out in their respective age group competitions in the 2017 Guam Swimming Championships held over the weekend at the Hagatna Pool.
Akimaru ruled the boys 15 to 16 age group, beating six other swimmers from Guam. He collected 70 points for topping five events and getting one runner-up finish to prevail against Tsunami Guam’s Caleb White (61) and Manhoben Swim Club’s Tanner (55) and Santiago (49) Poppe, Gabe Giovenco (43), and Gray Harvey (37).
The 16-year-old Akimaru won the 100m (1:04.34) and 50m butterfly (27.57 seconds) and 50m (25.85 seconds), 200m (2:07.75) and 400m (4:25.52) freestyle, and placed second in the 100m freestyle (57.64 seconds).
Villacrusis, on the other hand, was ranked first in the 200m individual medley (2:34.08) and 50m (35.36 seconds) and 100m (1:18.69) breaststroke and took third place in the 50m (27.77 seconds), 100m (1:03.48) and 200m (2:22.85) freestyle and 50m (30.44 seconds) and 100m butterfly (1:13.02).
With his three first place finishes and Top 3 rankings in five other races, Villacrusis earned 57 points and edged the Federated States of Micronesia’s Kaleo Kihleng (52), fellow SSC swimmer David Boyer (48), Tsunami Guam’s Kai Aricayos (26), and Manhoben’s Miguel Jugo (9) in the 17 to 18 age group.
Besides Villacrusis, Akimaru, and Boyer, five other SSC swimmers joined the two-day tournament and three of them made it to the Top 3.
In the boys 11 to 12 age group, Jinnosuke Suzuki totaled 68 points to finish at close second behind Tsunami Saipan’s Juhn Tenorio (72), while Taiyo Akimaru came in at No. 7 after recording 32 points. Sixteen swimmers were entered in the division.
In the 13 to 14 age category, Jinju Thompson and Lennosuke Suzuki placed second and third, respectively. Thompson was awarded 59 points to finish ahead of Manhoben’s Angel’Lea Aguilar (44), FSM’s Kestra Kihleng (41) and Manukai Athletic Club’s Ella Fedenko (38) and Sameha Wilbanks (21). Tsunami Saipan’s Aika Watanabe and Tsunami Guam’s Roxanne Mikel collected 68 points each to rule the girls 13 to 14 division.
In the boys field, Lennosuke gained 53 points to finish third behind Tsunami Guam’s Jimi Hendrix (72) and Ken Hasegawa (68). Lennosuke won over 10 other swimmers who competed in the division, including SSC teammate Taiga Sato (40 points, tied for the No. 6 spot with Tsunami Guam’s Louis Entera).
