Saipan Tribune

Friday, May 24, 2013

Friday, September 07, 2012

Rezne sets target at World Championships

CNMI swimmer Rezne Wong is hoping to end the 2012 season with a bang, as he aims to record personal best times in the FINA World Swimming Championships this December in Turkey.

“I am planning to compete in the 100m breaststroke, 50m freestyle, and the 100m and 200m individual medley. My goal will be to get best times in these races,” said Wong, who is leading the three-swimmer CNMI Team to the tournament that will run from Dec. 12 to 16 at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul.

The Marianas High School graduate will have on event per day in Turkey, racing in the 100m breaststroke first on Dec. 12, competing in the 50m freestyle on Dec. 13, and swimming in the 200m and 100m IM on Dec. 14 and 15, respectively.

“These are short course meters (SCM) times, so they are a bit faster than the long course meters time and a bit slower than short course yards (SCY) times,” added Wong.

The 21-year-old swimmer aims to post 1:05 in the 100m breaststroke, complete the 50m freestyle under 24 seconds (23.99), and record 57.99 second in the 100m IM and 2:06.99 in the 200m IM.

The CNMI does not keep records in short course (25-meter pool), but in the long one, Wong holds the Commonwealth's record in the 100m breaststroke (1:07.29), which he logged on May 30, 2012 during the 9th Oceania Swimming Championships in New Caledonia. He also owns the long course national record in the 200m IM (2:10:18), which he made on July 27, 2011 during the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China.

Joining Wong on the squad are fellow Tsunami Saipan Swimming Center member Kensuke Kimura and Saipan Swim Club's Victoria Chentsova. Minerva Cabrera, also from SSC, will coach the small CNMI Team.

“I also want to just lead the CNMI team, however small, to the best of my ability and show a good example for Ken and Victoria. I am 21 now and should be able to handle more responsibility than just myself. I also would just to have a positive attitude and race with all I have,” added the Commonwealth athlete.

The University of Hawaii swim team member would like to thank Northern Marianas Swimming Federation for his selection and all his supporters for making his participation in various competitions around the world possible.

“As I always say, I have been very blessed to travel to all these amazing places. Swimming and hard work have allowed me to have these opportunities, but God and my family and friends have carried me there. Life is too short to take for granted, so I try to breathe every moment in as if it were my last,” Wong said.

“I would like to thank NMASA and NMSF for nominating me for the World and also to my coaches Hiro Kimura, the Tsunami Swim Team Family, Saipan Swim Club, University of Hawai at Manoa swim team, and of course the Wong family for always supporting me. Lastly, I give God all the glory for letting me pursue my dreams,” he said.