CNMI swimmers start new season Sept. 20

Swimmers at the starting block during the 2013 SSC International Swim Meet early this year. SSC and Tsunami Saipan swimmers will return to action later this month for the 2014-2015 season. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

First up is the Saipan Swim Club-organizer Minnie Me Meet, which is set for Sept. 20. Up next is the first Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation-sanctioned swim meet scheduled for Oct. 4 at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool. Times will be considered official and swimmers from both SSC and Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan will aim to break or equal CNMI national and age group records.

For the month of November, SSC will be back as hosts, as it brings the All Schools Championships. The All Schools will be held on Nov. 8 and will feature swimmers in the elementary, middle school, and high school divisions.

In December, there will be three events lined up with the biggest one featuring an international competition—the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m). The short course tournament will take place in Doha, Qatar from Dec. 3 to 7 and NMISF will choose the CNMI’s representatives to the five-day contest.

While selected swimmers from CNMI compete in Qatar, other local bets will have the opportunity to go for PBTs and CNMI marks as they participate in the NMISF midseason meet set for Dec. 6. Tsunami Saipan will host the competition where official times will be considered in the CNMI record books. For the third and last event for December, SSC will have the Jingle Bell Fun Run slated for Dec. 17.

SSC will open 2015 with a Pentathlon and Masters Meet on Jan. 24, followed by the Meek and Mighty Ocean Swim in the waters off the Pacific Islands Club on Feb. 7.

For March, there will be two competitions with the first one—the SSC International Meet—taking place on March 13 and 14. The international meet will have SSC and Tsunami Saipan swimmers racing against representatives of Guam, Palau, and the Marshall Islands. Once the two-day international meet is complete, swimmers will head to the open water for the second event of the month—the SSC Ocean Swim.

Meanwhile, the 10 remaining events under NMISF calendar are as follows: Escape from Managaha (April 11), Swim Marathon (April 23), NMISF season closing meet (May 2), Guam B/C Champs (May 2) Guam Swimming Federation Championships (May 29-30), Summer Fun Open Water 1 (June 6), Eagle Ray Ocean Swim (June 21), Summer Fun Open Water 2 (July 18), FINA World Championships 50m (July 24), and Summer Fun Open Water 3 (Aug. 2).