Tenorio rises up in Tokyo Junior Sprint

Tsunami Saipan’s Juhn Tenorio competes in the 50m backstroke of a local race early this year at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool in Marpi. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan’s Juhn Tenorio made a big leap in the Tokyo Junior Sprint 2017 after advancing into the finals of the 50m backstroke event of the competition held early this month at the Tatsumi International Swimming Arena.

The 12-year-old Tenorio placed fifth out of the 98 swimmers who raced in the qualifying heats after clocking in at 31.98 seconds. He did the same race last year and was ranked 30th.

“He really made a big improvement this year even though he did not medal in the finals,” Tsunami Saipan coach Hiro Kimura said.

In the finals, where the Top 8 finishers battled for the podium finish, Tenorio came out at sixth place after submitting 32.12 seconds. Taiyo Kyouiku Swim Club’s Kunihiro Wasio won the gold medal after checking in at 31.16 seconds.

Tenorio also swam in the 50m freestyle and placed No. 17 out of 132 swimmers after completing the sprint in 29 seconds.

In other results, Isaiah Aleksenko, who won a gold medal in the 50m freestyle, marched into the finals, too, of the 100m individual medley. His 1:18.21 was ranked third among 75 swimmers and he eclipsed his prelim time in the finals after posting a fifth-best 1:18.06. MyS Hanahata’s Kouyou Nakatani took the gold medal after recording 1:16.54.

Siblings Aika and Nanaka Watanabe and Aasish Dangol also competed in the 100m IM event in their respective age groups. The 13-year-old Aika clocked in at 1:20.38 to finish at No. 23 spot, while her younger sister Nanaka (11) posted 1:20.78 for the No. 42 place. Dangol logged 1:28.62 and was just one step away from making it to the finals in the U8 age group, as he ranked ninth in the preliminary races.

The Watanabe sisters had one more event each with Nanaka joining the 50m breaststroke and placing 36 out of 90 swimmers after timing in at 40.72 seconds. Aika did the 50mbackstroke and her 35 seconds put her at No. 20 out of 40 swimmers in the qualifiers.

Xans Xu also joined the qualifier in the 50m backstroke and landed at No. 18 out of 89 swimmers with his 38.08 seconds, while two more Tsunami Saipan swimmers competed in the 50m breaststroke, too. Sophia Gauran was one of them and her 39.66 gave her the No. 31 spot out of 45 swimmers, while Marian Batallones finished at No. 27 out of 104 participants after logging 50.41 seconds.

In the 50m butterfly event, Anthony Camacho-Deleon Guerrero was ranked No. 14 (out of 78 swimmers) after checking in at 33.24 seconds, while he took the No. 23 spot (out of 144) in the 50m freestyle (31.50 seconds).

Meanwhile, Tsunami Saipan would like to thank the following for supporting the team’s participation in the March 4 and 5 tournament: Mariana Resort & Spa, Tasi Tours, YANO Enterprizes, Inc., Dolphin Club Saipan, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Java Joe, Bostonian Bakery, IT&E, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, Coca-Cola Saipan; Senate President Arnold Palacios and Sen. Justo Quitugua and Reps. B.J. Attao, Edmund Villagomez, Joe Itibus, Greg Sablan, and Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero.