Dangol, Yanai set swim marks

Two Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan members had record-breaking swims in the 2014-2015 Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation Championships held early this month at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool.

Tsunami Saipan’s Ashley Dangol cools down after completing a race in the 2014-2015 Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation Championships held early this month at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool. (Contributed Photo)

Ryuto Yanai was the first one to earn an age group mark in the boys 11 to 12 division after posting 2:52.50 in the 200m butterfly swim. He shattered the record of his oldest brother, Kaito, who registered 3:02.10 on April 16, 2011. Ryuto made it to the 11 to 12 age group record list for the first time, joining the company of his brother, fellow Tsunami Saipan swimmer Kensuke Kimura, and Saipan Swim Club’s Joshua Taitano.

In the girls U8 division, Ashley Dangol now owns five age group marks after adding the 400m freestyle record to her collection. Dangol completed the 400m freestyle race in this month’s competition in 5:59.53 to surpass the record of Tsunami Saipan teammate Nanaka Watanabe, who clocked in at 6:15:54 on Oct. 4, 2014.

Besides the 400m freestyle mark, Dangol also holds the girls U8 records in the 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 50 and 100m butterfly.

Tsunami Saipan coach Hiro Kimura said Dangol dedicated her record swim to the people of Nepal who were hit by a devastating earthquake late last month.

“Her parents are from Kathmandu. Her grandmother’s house collapsed due to the earthquake and a lot of their friends back home are affected by this tragedy. Tsunami Saipan joins Dangol’s family and the rest of the CNMI in praying for Nepal,” Kimura said.

18 get PBTs in 100m freestyle
Meanwhile, 18 swimmers notched personal best times in the 100m freestyle races of NMISF’s last meet for the 2014-2015 season.

Participants in the boys 9 to 10 race got the most PBTs (7) with SSC’s Jinnosuke Suzuki leading the list with his 1:13.90 (from 1:15.39). Suzuki’s teammates Taiyo Akimaru (1:22.36), Rintaro Miyawaki (1:24.12), Cory Lee (1:26.11), and Mark Jainier Chavez (1:54.15) had the same feat along with Tsunami Saipan’s Rentaro Suzuki (1:40.68) and Kenta Tomie (1:52.34).

Other swimmers who earned PBTs in the 100m freestle event were SSC’s Andrei Kaith Lynn (1:59.20), Jasmin Frink (1:28.67), Taiga Sato (1:10.43), Rinto Takahashi (1:15.08), Kento Akimaru (1:01.46), Dominic Zedde (1:46.74), and Salofi Welch (1:09.82) and Tsunami Saipan’s Kyona Rivera (1:16.49), Kathrine Illahi (1:26.45), and Shaunalyn Babauta (1:45.96).