Kento leads Meek and Mighty winners

  Saipan Swim Club’s Kento Akimaru was the youngest participant in the 5-kilometer race of the 7th Annual Meek and Mighty Ocean Swim and turned out to be the fastest, too.

The 11-year-old Akimaru completed the five laps of last Saturday’s race in the waters off Pacific Islands Club in San Antonio in one hour and 38.88 seconds to beat four other swimmers in the longest race of the day.

Akimaru defeated 14-year-old Victoria Chentsova (1:00:57.38) and adult swimmers Jeff El-Hajj (1:02:03.67), Carol Lyn Pierce (1:11:42.01), and Brian Morris (1:15:45.49). Akimaru and Chentsova were together all throughout the race, but the former was faster in going out of the water, while the latter took her time and was still catching her breath when she headed to the shore.

Besides the 5K event, last Saturday’s swim also featured 1K and 3K races.

Nicky Nichols was first out of the water in the 1K event, timing in at 14:21, followed by Rinto Takahashi (17:02), while bothers Michail and Michael Villagomez sprinted to the shore and ended up in third and fourth, respectively after clocking in at 17:20 and 17:21.

Other finishers in the shortest race of the day were Akira Kodukora (17:31), Conatsu Kaga (17:58), Roxie Lamar (18:49), Jon Ulrich (19:06), John Douglas (19:07.63), Quynchi Nguyen (19:07.66), Coume Kaga (19:41.76), Karri Fisher (19:49), Paul Viator (20:00), Miku Torres (20:37), R.J. Pierce (20:42.71), and Mamiko Oshima-Berger (20:42.73).

In the 3K race, top finisher Ed Ewing had about a seven-minute lead against Rachel Zuercher, as the former timed in at 36:39 against the latter’s 43:53. Rounding out the Top 3 were SSC swimmer Taiga Sato and Dawn Hammermeister, who had identical times of 43:56.67.

Completing the 3K finishers were Lennosuke Susuki (44:30), Suzy Kindel (49:06), Daniel Calvo (53:19), Joshua Berger (53:38), Manny Sitchon (53:43), Paul Plunkett (53:50), Eden Schwartz (55:51), and Jennifer Kogre (1:00:17).

Meanwhile, SSC would like to thank all the swimmers and sponsors for making last Saturday’s event possible.

“Saipan Swim Club appreciate the support of all sponsors, family, and friends of SSC. Please look forward to the International Meet and Saipan Ocean Swim on April 13 to 15 and the Escape from Managaha Swim on May 5,” SSC president Robert Torres said.