Tsunami Saipan to compete in two Guam meets

Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan will be competing in two tournaments in Guam before the end of this year, which will serve as warm-up events for several off-island meets the club is expected to take part in next year.

Tsunami Saipan manager Yuko Kimura said their swimmers will be participating in the Guam Swim Federation Island Invitational on Nov. 21 and 22 at the Hagatna pool.

Only Tsunami Saipan swimmers who have at least two BB times will be qualified to compete in the Invitational.

A double-B time represents a level equal to 75 percebt of the National Reportable Time or T16. BB time shows a swimmer having a correct performance of a particular stroke and has achieved a speed only a limited percentage of athletes can perform.

NRT or T16 represents a level that a swimmer must surpass to submit his name for consideration in the annual Top 16 list. The annual rankings are published in the Swimming World magazine and each qualifier receives certification from USA Swimming. Swimmers earning a NRT are in the Top 1 percent of the American Age Group swimmers.

Qualifying times are determined during team time trials and monthly meets.

On Dec. 27 and 28, Tsunami Saipan will be sending swimmers to the Guam International Swim Meet.

The international event is for swimmers who have at least one A time, which represents a level equal to 84 percent of the NRT.

Kimura said Tsunami Saipan is eyeing to send swimmers from the “Athletes Group” or Sensyu in the December tournament in Guam.

Tsunami Saipan’s program is divided into five groups, namely beginners, youth and fitness, Ikusei I, Ikusei II, Jyun-Sensyu, and Sensyu.

Beginners are for 8-and-under swimmers, while the youth and fitness group is for those who swim during weekends to remain fit, but not that competitive. Ikusei represents the developmental pool, while Jyun-Sensyu is composed of junior swimmers. Sensyu is the elite group of swimmers.

After the two tournaments in Guam, Tsunami Saipan swimmers will be busy preparing for eight off-island tournaments next year.

On top of the list is the Junior Pan Pacific Championships, which Guam will be hosting from Jan. 8 to 11.

Next up for the Hiro Kimura-coached swimmers is the Short Course Championships, also in Guam. The tournament will be played only in one day on Feb. 21.

In March, Tsunami Saipan swimmers are set to compete in two tournaments in Tokyo, Japan. They will participate in the Tokyo Junior Sprint on March 14 and 15, and in the Junior Olympic event on March 28 and 29.

In May, Tsunami Saipan swimmers will fly to Darwin, Australia for the Arafura Games, which rill run from Mary 17 to 19. Later that month, Tsunami Saipan will compete in the Guam Championships.

Two months after, Tsunami along with other selected CNMI swimmers will represent the Commonwealth in the FINA World Championships. Rome will host the world meet from July 19 to 31.

Tsunami Saipan will conclude the 2008-2009 season with its participation in the Junior Olympic Time Trial in Tokyo on July 26 and 27.