Maria, Kouki top 1,000m race

From left, Northern Marianas Swimming Federation vice president John Hirsh, Kuoki Watanabe, Andrew Nuñez, Moshe Sikkel, and Saipan Swim Club coach Richard Sikkel. (Mark Rabago)

Swimming Center Tsunami Saipan’s Kuoki Watanabe and Maria Batallones were first out of the water in the 1,000m course of Saipan Swim Club’s Triple Crown Open Water Swim Series held last Saturday in the waters off the Civic Center beach in Oleai.

Watanabe topped the men’s division with a time of 14:31.9. He was followed by fellow Tsunami Saipan member Andrew Nuñez at 15:08.5, while Saipan Swim Club’s Moshe Sikkel was third after clocking in at 15:09.4.

In the women’s, Batallones was untouchable touching the flag at the finish line in time of 14:47.7. Tsunami Saipan’s Jessica Ma and Michelle Chen completed the Tsunami Saipan sweep of the division by completing the course in 17:28.1 and 17:51.0, respectively.

The 500m race was also dominated by Tsunami Saipan with both men’s and women’s categories swarming with coach Hiro Kimura’s wards.

Justin Ma spearheaded the charge by winning the men’s side with a time of 7:50.4. Tomomitsu Aldan, the son of former CNMI national swimmer David Palacios, came in second at 8:11.5, while Richard Zhao completed the Top 3 at 8:47.4.

In the women’s Sari Barman was without peer with a time of 8:05.9. Kaya Braxton was runner-up at 8:33.8 with Nagisa Litulumar at third at 8:41.4.

From left, NMSF vice president John Hirsh, Maria Batallones, Jessica Ma, Michelle Chen, SSC coach Richard Sikkel. (Mark Rabago)

SSC head coach Richard Sikkel was encouraged by his swimmers’ performance in the 1,000m and 500m swims, but two swimmers particularly caught his eye.

“In the 1,000m Piper Raho is knocking on the door. Once she gets bit by the competitive bug she will be a force to be reckoned with. Georgia Baetge also put in a very solid performance,” he said.

Raho finished fourth in the 1,000m for women at 18.19.8, while Baetge followed Raho in the standings at 19:43.4.

Kimura, for his part, wasn’t so happy with his swimmers’ performance in either race. “1,000 and 500 is too usual result. I don’t have any comment but if I have to say something, their times were slow.”

Last Saturday’s event was the first part of the Triple Crown Open Water Swim Series. Aside from the 1,000m and 500m competitive swims, a 1,000m qualifier was also held that will chose four swimmers (top two men and top two women) that will represent the CNMI in the 2021 FINA World Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates this coming December. The second and third parts of the Triple Crown Open Water Swim Series will be held on July 24 and Sept. 25 in the same venue.

Results of the 20m for beginners, 50m for intermediate, and 100m for advanced will be published in tomorrow’s issue of the Saipan Tribune.