SSC brings home high-point award

Saipan Swim Club swimmers pose at the medal podium during last month’s 2014 Guam Swimming Championships at the Hagatna Swimming Pool. (Contributed Photo)

Suzuki topped the boys U8 age group to get the high-point gold medal, while Akimaru finished third in the boys 13 to 14 division. The high-point awards were given to the Top 3 finishes in each age group and winners were decided based on the points swimmers got from their respective races.

The 8-year-old Suzuki ruled five races and had one runner-up finish. He got his first win via the 100m freestyle event after clocking in at 1:21.79, which is faster than his seed time (1:26.77). Suzuki defeated five other swimmers in this event, including teammates Taiyo Akimaru and Leo Takahashi. Taiyo finished third with a time of 1:28.06, surpassing his personal best time (1:34.31), while Takahashi also set a new PBT, recording 1:34.37 (from 1:36.32).

Suzuki’s four other victories in his age group came from the 200m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle, and 200m individual medley. In the 200m IM, he submitted 3:23.67 to beat Tsunami Saipan’s Hans Xu (3:43.96) and Anthony Camacho-Deleon Guerrero (3:49.66). In the 50m freestyle, the SSC bet downed five other swimmers after registering 36.05, a new PBT (from 37.23 seconds). Takahashi and Taiyo Akimaru joined the same event and timed in at 40.95 seconds and 40.88 seconds, respectively.

In the 50m backstroke race, the same three SSC swimmers were entered in the event with Suzuki logging the fastest time at 46.53 seconds. Takahashi had the third best time at 48.43 seconds, while Taiyo Akimaru was fourth with his 49.13 seconds. In the 200m freestyle, Suzuki’s 3:00.05 topped the field, while Taiyo Akimaru (3:22.19) and Takahashi (3:25.31) came in at fourth and fifth. In the 50m butterfly, Suzuki missed a first place sweep after settling for the runner-up honors. Suzuki registered 43.36 seconds against the 42.70 seconds of Camacho-Deleon Guerrero. Taiyo Akimaru also joined the event and clocked in at 50.34 seconds.

Taiyo’s older brother Kento participated, too in the 50 butterfly event and placed second with a new PBT 32.33 seconds (from 32.86 seconds). In the much longer 100m butterfly race, Kento also earned a new PBT with his 1:15.31 (1:16.09). The 13-year-old Kento raced in two more events and notched his third PBT after recording 36.93 seconds (from 37.57 seconds) in the 50m backstroke. His fourth event—the 200m backstroke—Akimaru clocked in at 1:24.06.

Meanwhile, five other SSC swimmers also competed in the Guam tournament held last May 30 and 31. Coume Kaga was among them and was the lone female swimmer on the team. She submitted 1:31.11 in the girls 9 to 10’ 100m freestyle to eclipse her previous PBT (1:31.42); 3:14.11 (from 3:18.51) in the 200m freestyle; and 2:00.57 in the 100m breaststroke.

In the boys 11 to 12 age group, SSC had three entries in Rinto Takahashi, Lennosuke Suzuki, and Taiga Sato. Lennosuke placed second in the 50m breaststroke after a new PBT of 42.36 seconds (from 43.82 seconds), while Rinto also gained a PBT, 44.59 seconds from 45.65 seconds. In the 100m freestyle, Lennosuke got his second PBT (1:12.28 from 1:13.10), while Sato timed in at 1:15.91). Sato and Lennosuke also raced in the 400m freestyle (5:49.83) and 50m butterfly (38.80 seconds), respectively.

In the 100m backstroke, Lennosuke clinched his second runner-up finish after a PBT of 1:27.66, while he and Rinto Takahashi were ranked third and fourth in the 100m breaststroke after recording 1:35.89 and 1:40.25.

In the boys 9 to 10 age group, only Rintaro Miyawaki fought for SSC. He placed second in the 50m backstroke with a PBT of 49.71 seconds; fifth in the 100m freestyle (1:28.79), 50m butterfly (48.16 seconds), and 200m freestyle (3:14.79); and third in the 100m breaststroke (1:53.75).

Rintaro also raced in the mixed 200m freestyle relay with teammates Lennosuke Susuki, Rinto Takahashi, and Sato and the SSC quartet clocked in at 2:24:98. The club had two entries in the relay with Kaga, Jinnosuke Suzuki, Leo Takahashi, and Taiyo Akimaru forming the other team and submitting 2:41.58.