3 CNMI swimmers off to World Championships

The CNMI will be sending three swimmers to the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China this month.

Making it on the list first was Rezne Wong, who was selected by Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan early last month. Joining him are Saipan Swim Club’s Grace Kimball and Victoria Chentsova. The two female swimmers were selected after competing in a tournament in Guam later last month.

Each Commonwealth swimmer is entered in two events. Wong will be participating in his favorite events—the 200m breaststroke and the 200m individual medley. The University of Hawaii-Manoa swim team member holds both the CNMI and age group records (17 to 18) in the 200m breaststroke and 200m IM. He posted the CNMI and age group marks in the 200m breaststroke (2:26.83) on July 30, 2009 during the World Championships in Rome, Italy. In the 200m IM, Wong’s record is 2:14.48 logged on May 30, 2009 during a tournament in Guam.

The competition in China will be Wong’s third world championships, while Kimball and Chentsova are first-timers.

Kimball will be swimming in the 50m and 100m freestyle races. The 15-year-old swimmer’s best time in the 50m freestyle is 30.64 seconds. Nina Mosley holds both the CNMI 15 to 16 age group marks in the 50m freestyle 28.08 seconds (June 28, 2006). In the 100m freestyle, Kimball’s personal best stands at 1:08.09. Mosley also owns the CNMI and age group records in the 100m freestyle (1:01.25).

Chentsova will be participating in longer races—the 200m and 400m freestyle.

The 13-year-old swimmer’s PBT in the 400m freestyle reads 5:16.62 recorded during the Guam tournament last month. Chentsova chopped off about 24 seconds from her previous PBT (5:39.46). In the 200m, Chentsova’s new PBT is 2:29.86, which she also made during the Guam meet and is more than two seconds faster than her previous mark (2:31.96)

Only Kimball and Chentsova are training together since Wong is still in Hawaii, but all three are expected to be in top shape when they reach Shanghai, which will host the championship from July 16 to 31.

“Each athlete has been working hard to prepare for this meet. The World Championships will give them the opportunity to watch, listen, and learn from swimmers of a caliber far exceeding their own. It is a huge honor for our swimmers to be able to attend and compete at this level. This gives them a glimpse of the pinnacle of the sport which they can then share with their teammates when they return home,” SSC’s Lisa Kimball said.