Isaiah will be lone wolf for CNMI in Tokyo Jr. Olympic Cup

Isaiah Aleksenko will be the CNMI’s lone entry to this year’s 47th Junior Olympic Cup at the Tokyo Aquatics Center that will start in Japan this week.

The 17-year-old Marianas High School student and reigning NMSA Male Student Athlete of the Year will be accompanied by Tsunami Saipan Swimming Center head coach Hiroyuki Kimura.

Aleksenko will compete in the 50m butterfly event on March 29 and the 100m butterfly the next day on March 30. Kimura said his ward will swim against 72 swimmers in his first event and 32 swimmers in his second.

“Honestly it feels weird because I’m used to traveling with teammates. I think I’d do better when my teammates travel with me because I have more motivation and support which makes me have more adrenaline making me swim better,” said Aleksenko when asked how he feels being the CNMI’s lone entry in the Tokyo meet.

The Junior Olympic Cup is held twice a year—the long course in summer and the short course in spring. Although it is a competition for junior swimmers in Japan, there are many participants from overseas.

Last year, the Australian junior team participated. Guam swimmers also participated several times before and this year will mark the very first the CNMI will taking part in the event.

Divisions include 10-and-under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, and the Championship Class where Aleksenko will be participating in.

“It’s a competition for top swimmers in the world for junior competitions. The winner’s time is equivalent to the World Junior Championships finalist time. Isaiah is the only swimmer to qualify with a Junior Olympic Cup time,” said Kimura.

The many time CNMI national coach said the qualifying time for the Junior Olympic Cup is extremely fast and even the CNMI record is far behind.

“For example, the qualifying time for the girls 11-12 50m backstroke is 32.20. The CNMI’s national record is 33.20, which means that even the fastest swimmer in Saipan history has not achieved a qualifying time of even a 12-year-old swimmer in this meet!”

Kimura said Aleksenko would have to be in his best element to make an impression at the Junior Olympic Cup.

“It’s a close race with dozens of swimmers crowded together within 0.5 seconds. It will be a thrilling race where the winner will be decided by a 1mm or 2mm difference in finishing touches. Isaiah needs to be 100% in shape without fail.”

He added their first goal is just to survive and make it to at least the finals.

“The Top 8 from preliminaries will go to the finals. Our chances are 50/50. It’s very scary but also so exciting.”

Kimura thanked the following for making their trip to the 47th Junior Olympic Cup in Japan possible: Northern Marianas Sports Association, Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, Aqua Resort Club, the Tan family, Saipan Swim Club, and to all the Tsunami Saipan swimmers and parents who support the team.

Aleksenko and Kimura will leave for Japan on Wednesday.