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Kimura, Tenorio debut in FINA World Cup today
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Posted on Nov 11 2011
Tsunami Saipan’s Kensuke Kimura and Shigeki Tenorio left Saipan yesterday morning and will compete for the first time in FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2011 today at the Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center in Japan.
The 16-year-old Tenorio will race in the preliminary heat of the 50m breaststroke this morning, while Kimura’s first event will be the 100m individual medley, also in the morning session of the opening day of the tournament. Start lineups of both heats were unavailable at press time, but Tenorio’s event is fourth on the list, while Kimura’s IM race if third to the last in the morning session.
The semis and finals of Day 1 events will take place this evening.
“It is a privilege to join the tournament in Japan. I would like to thank the Japan Swimming Federation for inviting us and for everyone who supported me. I know I don’t a chance against Olympic swimmers in Tokyo, but I’ll try my best to get good times,” Kimura said in an email to Saipan Tribune last Thursday before they left for Tokyo with coach and father Hiro.
“I’m really excited to swim in my firs international swim meet, but I’m also really nervous to swim because I’m not really confident of my time. But I’ll try my best in Tokyo,” Tenorio said in a separate email to Saipan Tribune.
Tenorio and Kimura will both swim in the 50m freestyle event tomorrow morning.
“I hope Ken and Shigeki represent the CNMI well in Tokyo. They are young swimmers and their experience in the World Cup will help them in future tournaments,” coach Kimura said.
The Tokyo meet is the last stop of seven-leg World Cup series and it features top swimmers, including Michael Phelps, from the U.S., Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world. A whopping $100,000 awaits the men’s and women’s champions, which will be determined by compiling points earned from the seven-leg series.
Meanwhile, Tsunami Saipan will begin its four-series mini meet today. The first part of the series will start at 2:30pm and end at 5pm. The last three events will take place on Nov. 19, Dec. 3, and Dec. 10.
