PBT rush for 8 Tsunami Saipan swimmers

Tsunami Saipan swimmers pose with their medals and plaques before starting their training session at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool early this week. (Contributed Photo)

Eight Tsunami Saipan swimmers marked personal best times in all their events in the 2016 Saipan Swim Club International Invitational Meet held from March 17 to 19 at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool.

Seven-year-old Maria Batallones led Tsunami Saipan swimmers with 100 percent PBTs in seven events. Others on the list were Isaiah Aleksenko (9-for-9), Sean Gil (8-for-8), Asaka (8-for-8) and Shoko Litulumar (7-for-7), Ayumi Obligacion (7-for-7), Arman Rechucher (8-for-8), and Risa Sekiguchi (5-for-5).

Batallones and Isaiah also finished second in the high-point race in the girls U8 and boys 9 to 10 division, respectively, earning good remarks from Tsunami Saipan head coach Hiro Kimura. The mentor said Maria is just 7 years old and Isaiah is 9, but both did well against much older opponents and he believes they will fare better in the succeeding competitions.

Besides the Tsunami Saipan swimmers who recorded 100 percent PBTs, Kimura also recognized the performance of Ashley and Aasish Dangol, Sophia Gauran, Aika Watanabe, Nelson Batallones, Juhn Tenorio, Miku Tammy, Kathrine Illahi, Mark Maestro, Angel De Jesus, and Takumi Sugie.

Sugie swam in only seven events and earned five PBTs.

“If he did nine events, he could have won his age group,” said Kimura.

Sugie finished second behind Saipan Swim Club’s Caleb Wang after getting 63 points against the latter’s 66.

Ashley won the girls 9 to 10 age group, beating seven other swimmers. She bagged six PBTs out of her nine events. Her brother, Aasish, also ruled his age group (U8) and had five PBTs in seven events. Gauran and Aika Watanabe, on the other hand, combined for 11 PBTs in the girls 11 to 12 age group with the former marking five PBTs in nine events and the latter tallying 6.

In the boys 11 to 12, Batallones nearly had a clean mark, going 8-for-9, while Tenorio posted seven PBTs in nine events. In the 13 to 14 age group, Illahi, Maestro, and Tammy had low PBT ratios, but they still got recognition from Kimura after making it to the Top 3 in their age group.

“Overall, I believe we did our best in the international meet. Our swimmers were affected by Typhoon Soudelor and some of our members quit swimming due to various reasons. However, we still train, work hard, and remain competitive. We will work harder in the next meet,” Kimura said.

Meanwhile, Kouki Watanabe got a slot on the Tsunami Saipan team that will compete in Guam in May after posting a BB time in the boys U8’s 50m breaststroke (1:00.86)