Tsunami Saipan continues reign in Flipper race

  Tsunami Saipan Swimming Center continued its supremacy in the Saipan International Open Water Flipper Tournament with Rezne Wong, Kensuke Kimura, and Angel Marie Tan topping last Saturday’s race around Managaha Island.

Wong, who ruled the 2009 and 2010 edition of the annual event, returned to the waters off the famous island after missing last year’s race and this time crossed the finish line with his teammate Kimura who incidentally won last year’s competition. The two Tsunami Saipan swimmers completed the 1.5-kilometer race in 25:01 to share the top honors in the men’s division this year.

Joining Kimura and Wong in the Top 3 were two other Tsunami Saipan teammates-Kaito Yanai and Takumi Sugie. The 13-year-old Yanai timed in at 27:10 to place second, while the 14-year-old Sugie finished third with his time of 28:31. It was Yanai’s second time to compete in the Flipper race after ruling the 11 to 12 age group last year.

Kaito’s two other brothers also joined the weekend race with the elder Hiroto prevailing in the 11 to 12 age group and the younger Ryuto winning the U10 age group. Hiroto posted a winning time of 29:10, while Ryuto recorded 36:09.

In the women’s division, Tan earned back-to-back victories after clocking in at 27:06, less than a minute ahead of her closest pursuer-Yumi Ishiodori of Japan (27:44). Another Japanese swimmer, Hatsumi Watanabe, made it to the Top 3 in the women’s division after clocking in at 28:39.

Tan won last year’s race with a time of 24-56 but her fastest time came in 2010 when she emerged from the in 23:34. In her inaugural Flipper race in 2009, Tan submitted 24:37.

Duplicating Tan’s first place finish was teammate Karen Irinaka, who won the girls U10 age group after logging 59:05.

Meanwhile, eight other swimmers took top honors in their respective age group. Japan’s Yutaka Miyashita won in the men’s 19 to 29 with a time of 31:42, Kaysutoshi Sakuma (30:01) prevailed in the 30 to 39 and Yasuhiro Kamikura (37:10) reigned supreme in the 60-and-above age group. Saipan’s Tamio Nishikido claimed first place n the 40 to 49 division after posting 29:55.

In the women’s division, Japan had a sweep with Yuko Watanabe (43:33) dominating the 19 to 29 age group, Makakiko Morishita (43:32) winning the 30 to 39, Ikue Takahashi (36:36) topping the 40 to 49, and Aiko Oshima (31:37) ruling the 50 to 59.

By Roselyn Monroyo
Reporter