SSC swimmers collect PBTs in last local meet

Saipan Swim Club’s Salofi Welch competes in the 100m breaststroke event in the 2016 NMISF Closing Swim Meet held at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool early this month. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Saipan Swim Club members registered 44 personal best times in nine events in the NMISF Closing Swim Meet held at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool early this month.

SSC swimmers made the most PBTs (14) in the 50m freestyle. Salofi Welch led the PBT getters in the sprint with his club best 28.02 seconds, .06 of a second faster than his old mark. Other SSC bets who gained PBTs in the final individual race of the May 7 tournament were David Boyer (29.10 second), Lennosuke Suzuki (28.11), R.J. Pierce (33.03), Rinto Takahashi (33.14), Dominic Zedde (39.95), Mark Jainier Chavez (44.30), Leo Takahashi (36.58), Matthew Zedde (52.70), Jinnosuke Suzuki (31.84), Takeru Jim (44.29), Kengo Sato (52.15), Cojiro Kaga (58.87), and Alonzo Acosta (57.31).

Acosta also got a PBT in the 50m backstroke (1:09.25) along with Julie Anne Chavez (1:16.19), Ayaka Sato (53.27), Leo Takahashi (46.15), Dino Sato (56.63), and Dominic Zedde (49.45)

Dominic Zedde’s third PBT came in the 100m freestyle (1:35.02), while five others had best marks in the same event. The list includes Lennosuke (1:01.33) and Jinnosuke (1:08.65) Suzuki, Ayaka Sato (1:40.45), Jim (1:52.67), and Mark Jainier Chavez (1:37.43).

In the 100m butterfly, Mark’s sister—Andrei Kaith Lynn—timed in at 1:58.560 to eclipse her previous PBT (2:04.60), while Boyer submitted 1:12.08, more than five seconds faster than his old mark.

There were also two SSC swimmers who gained PBTs in the 200m freestyle with Dino Sato the first tone after logging 3:25.44 and Lennosuke Suzuki the second with his 2:15.38. Pierce, on the other hand, was the lone SSC bet to mark a PBT in the 100m breaststroke (3:20.78).

Dino Sato added the 200m individual medley to his list of PBTs after clocking in at 4:03.26, while Coume Kaga and Christian Villacrusis had the same feat after recording 3:18.47 and 2:37.90, respectively.

In the 50m breaststroke, Jim tallied a PBT of 58.79, while Matthew Zedde earned his second mark after registering 1:00.42. Other PBT getters in the event were Pierce (42.12) and Rinto Takahashi (43.24).

Meanwhile, the last local meet for the 2015-2016 season concluded with two relay events.

In the mixed 17 and over 200m medley relay, the quartet of Villacrusis, Angel Tan, Kento Akimaru, and Welch clocked in at 2:13.61 to beat two other teams. Tsunami Saipan’s Takumi Sugie, Mark Maestro, Miku Tammy, and Angel Jesus came in at second with their 2:19.25, while SSC 2’s Coume Kaga, Pierce, Boyer, and Lennosuke Suzuki finished third after logging 3:20.94.

Two more SSC squads joined the mixed medley relay with Leo Takahashi, Lennosuke Suzuki, Taiyo Akimaru, and Mark Jainier Chavez teaming up and clocking in at 3:01.72. Dino Sato joined forces with Jim, Andrei Kaith Lynn, and Acosta and the quartet submitted 3:33.63.

In the 200m freestyle relay, Tsunami Saipan’s Sophia Gauran, Juhn Tenorio, Aika Watanabe, and Nelson Batallones recorded 2:14.06 for the fastest time in the seven-team field.