Rezne returns to China for more records

CNMI swimmer Rezne Wong is not done yet despite two-record breaking swims in the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China.

Wong will be representing the Commonwealth to the 26th Summer Universiade, which incidentally will be held in China, too. The 2011 Summer Universiade, also known as the World University Games and sanctioned by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), will run from Aug. 11 to 23 in Shenzhen and will feature athletes in the collegiate level.

The CNMI swimmer will return to China this weekend and will be joined by fellow athlete Matthew Mancao and Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association president Michael White in Shenzhen.

Wong will be competing in the 200m individual medley and 200m breaststroke races in Shenzhen. These are the same events he had in Shanghai where he reset the CNMI national records. He finished the 200m IM at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center in two minutes and 10.18 seconds, surpassing the Commonwealth national mark (2:14.48) by more than four seconds.

Wong crushed the CNMI mark in the 200m IM two years after falling short in the same tournament in Rome, Italy.

“In Rome, the 200IM was my last event, way after all the tapering. I also mainly trained for breaststroke for Worlds 09, which really paid off because all my breaststroke times dropped. As for China, I think I just got stronger, my cardio improved, and my racing and stroke got refined. I was also more mentally apt for this Worlds. I was more focused and calm before, during, and after the races,” Wong said.

Then in his second event in Shanghai, the 200m breaststroke, Wong submitted 2:23.35 in the qualifying heat, shaving off more than three seconds from his personal best and qualifying times and breaking the CNMI record, too. (2:26.83).

“In the 200m breaststroke, I swam at 2:24.00 a month ago in Hawaii and it really gave me confidence that I can drop even more. I missed the U.S. national cut by just .06 of a second. I will try to do it this time in the World University Games. Overall, I am happy with my times and I raced with everything I got. However, I know I can do better and improve myself both in practice and racing,” the 20-year-old swimmer said

Wong added the event in Shanghai—his third World Championships appearance–warmed him up for the World University Games.

“The trip was really awesome, I feel like I have reached a higher level and am not only finishing races but also competing with other great athletes. I just thank God for the great opportunities and blessings that he have given me, my family and friends for their love, and my coaches and teammates for their encouragement. There is more to come,” Wong said.

The swimming competition in the 2011 Summer Universiade will run from Aug. 14 to 19 at the 2,800-seater Natatorium of Universiade Center in Universiade New Town, Longgang District.