SSC swimmers excel in Hawaii tourney

Saipan Swim Club swimmers and coach Jacoby Winkfield, fourth from left, pose for a photo during their visit at the Volcano National Park in Hawaii. (Contributed Photo)

Victoria Chentsova, Kento Akimaru, Christian Villacrusis, Lennosuki Suzuki, and Taiga Sato, who were accompanied by SSC coach Jacoby Winkfield, recorded several Top 5 finishes in the two-day tournament that took place on June 28 and 29.

Suzuki led SSC’s campaign in Hawaii, notching five first place finishes out of his seven events in the boys 11 to 12 age group. He prevailed in the 200m individual medley (3.03.83), 100m freestyle (1:09.93), 50m freestyle (42.34 seconds), 100m breaststroke (1:34.03), and 200m freestyle (2:32.60). In his two other races, the 11-year-old got runner-up honors after posting 5:30.39 in the 400m freestyle and 31.41 seconds in the 50m freestyle.

Sato was in the same group as Suzuki and was ranked third in the 50m butterfly (42.62). He then placed fourth in the 400m freestyle (5:55.27) and 50m freestyle (34.40 seconds). The 11-year-old’s two other events were sprints—the 50m and 100m backstroke races—where he clocked in at 42.65 seconds and 1:33.17, respectively.

Chentsova participated in six events in the girls 15 to 16 and finished first in three races. She clocked in a field best 4:59.04 in the 400m freestyle and earned her two other first place finishes in the 1,500m freestyle (19:51.58) and 800m freestyle (10:21.09). In the 200m freestyle, the Saipan International School student submitted 2:23.81 to rank second, while her 1:06.59 in the 100m freestyle was good for third place. Chentsova also raced in the 100m breaststroke and placed fourth after registering 1:21.71.

Akimaru duplicated Chentsova’s three first place finishes, ruling the boys 13 to 14’s 200m IM (2:43.42), 400m IM (5:52.10), and 100m butterfly (1:15.08). In his others events, Akimaru had the second fastest times both in the 200m freestyle (2:24.27) and 100m freestyle (1:05.40). In the 100m breaststroke, Akimaru missed a Top 5 finish, but still had a good time (1:25.22).

Villacrusis joined the same 13 to 14 age group competition and was first in the 200m freestyle (2:35.07). He was runner-up in the 400m freestyle (5:26.40) and 200m IM (3:01.88), and third in the 50m freestyle (30.18 seconds), 100m freestyle (1:09.75), and 50m freestyle (29.83 seconds). Villacrusis swam in the 100m breaststroke, too, and clocked in at 1:33.44.

“It was an excellent showing for the islands swimmers and the first time in about 20 years since swimmers competed in Hawaii and the Big Island,” said former SSC coach Bill Sakovich, who hosted the SSC swimmers in Hilo with the help of two other families.

Sakovich added the five SSC swimmers trained at the Hilo High School and Kawamoto Public Pool with the Hilo Aquatics, which incidentally is under his and his wife Jeannie’s watch. The visiting swimmers also joined the training session of the Warrior Aquatics, which is coached by former SSC member Justin Pierce.

“The Hilo hosts, including the Sabnanis and Shimabukuro, were happy to accommodate Saipan swimmers and it was like old home week for I and Jean,” Sakovich said.

After their stop in Hilo, Winkfield and his five swimmers headed to Oahu for the Keo Nakama Invitational, which was held last weekend. Results of the second competition will be reported later this week.