Tsunami Saipan earns 4 medals

Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan members pose for a photo during the opening of the Tokyo Junior Sprint 2018 held at the Tatsumi International Swimming Arena in Japan early this month. (Contributed Photo)

Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan swimmers brought home four medals from the Tokyo Junior Sprint 2018 held at the Tatsumi International Swimming Arena in Japan early this month.

Isaiah Aleksenko delivered a gold medal and one bronze, while Aasish Dangol won a pair of bronze in the March 3 and 4 tournament that drew a record 3,258 participants.

Aleksenko competed in the boys 11’s 50m freestyle and clocked in at 28.52 in the two-lap swim to notch the gold medal in the division. He was also the fastest swimmer among the 129 participants in the qualifying races after submitting 28.77 seconds.

In the 50m butterfly, Aleksenko checked in at 31.51 seconds to finish fourth overall and make it to the gold medal race. He went on to have another podium finish as he won the bronze after posting a better time (30.89 seconds) in the finals. Eighty-three swimmers joined the 50m butterfly.

Aasish swam in the 50m butterfly, too, in the boys 9 years old division and logged 34.61 seconds in the preliminary race. He placed third among 103 swimmers to qualify to the next round and earned his second bronze medal after swimming faster in the finals with his 34.38 seconds.

The 9-year-old Aasish earlier took a bronze medal in the 100m individuam medley after recording 1:18.93. In the qualifying races, the Tsunami Saipan swimmer posted 1:20.36 to rank second among 91 finishers.

Meanwhile, Aasish sister, Ashley also marched into the finals of her two events. She registered 1:15.15 in the girls 11’s 100m IM qualifier and came in at sixth place out of 61 participants to move into the medal round. In the finals, Ashley broke her preliminary time after checking in at 1:14.24 and finishing fifth.

In the 50m butterfly, the older Dangol narrowly missed a medal after coming in at fourth place in the finals. She timed in at 31.11 seconds, eclipsing her mark (31.56 seconds) in the qualifier where she ended up at No. 6 out of 109 participants.

Besides the Dangol siblings and Aleksenko, five other Tsunami Saipan swimmers joined the two-day competition.

Kouki Watanabe raced on the boys 9’s 100m IM in Day 1 and clocked in at 1:32.07 to place No. 44 out of 91 swimmers. His sister Nanaka also did the 100m IM and her 1:18.35 was good for 27th place out of 43 participants. Maria Batallones and Asaka Litulumar also swam on Day 1 and submitted 35.27 second and 31.65 seconds in the 50m freestyle, respectively.

In the final day of the competition, Hans Xu had two events and recorded 33.54 seconds (No. 19 finish) in the 50m butterfly and 37.05 seconds (No. 28 place) in the 50m backstroke. In the 50m breaststroke, Tsunami Saipan had four entries in Kouki (46.80 seconds/No. 38), Batallones (44.83 seconds/No. 24), Nanaka (39.10 seconds/No. 34), and Asaka (39.12 seconds/No. 36).

“Every race was so close and exciting. I believe our swimmers had a job well done as they did their best in the tournament,” Tsunami Saipan coach Hiro Kimura.

Kimura would like to thank the following for making the club’s trip to Japan possible: Hyatt Regency Saipan, PIC Saipan, Pacific Wine & Spirits, Tasi Tours. Inc, Kingfisher Golf Links, Yano Enterprises. Inc., Mariana Resort & Spa, Java Joe’s, C&R Corp., Summer Holiday Hotel, Thompson Law Office, Fishing Tackle Sporting Goods, Majestic Restaurant, YCO Corp., and CNMI Books. Tsunami Saipan would also like to acknowledge Japan Swimming Federation, Tokyo Swimming Association, Water Mates Swimming Club, former Japan national team coach Susumu Oomura and masters world record holder Kousuke Maeda.