Masters Swim Meet drew huge participation
The first Masters Swimming Competition held on Saipan over the weekend drew a good participation from swimmers who traveled from Japan and Australia, vying for titles in one of the year’s most exciting sports event in the Northern Marianas.
Yuzo Hayashi, President of the Japan Masters Swimming Federation was on hand to witness the event, along with masters swimmer and former world champion Hisashi Fuwa.
This was the second big event of the weekend which followed the MVA 10km and half marathon. Many of the masters swimmers also competed in this run earlier, then went to Tinian that evening to compete in the Tinian Tropical Triathlon and Tinian Open Water Swim.
Viento Sports Company of Japan, Mizuno, Hotel Nikko-Saipan and Marianas Resort Hotel sponsored the event, with all companies pledging to make this an annual affair.
Three teams, composed of swimmers from Japan, the NMI Triathlon Club and former members of the Saipan Swim Club, competed for the high point trophy.
The Triathlon Club won the team trophy in the women’s division while Saipan Swim Club took the men’s division title. Japan placed third in each division.
Thirty five swimmers competed from Saipan, many of them turning in excellent masters times. Colin Thompson, former Cal swimmer and water polo player won three events in his division, 50m free in 26.03 and 58.90 in the 100m free, 29.53 in the 50m Butterfly.
Former Japan National Team swimmer Hisashi Fuwa won the 50m breastroke at a speed of 32.13 and the 100m breastroke in 1:11.37. Fuwa is a professional clown and performed some amazing stroke demonstrations during a short break, such as swimming upside down.
Tyce Mister, Todd Sandvold, Danny Stern, Gary DeGuzman and Jess Ronquillo, Tim Goodwin, Mike Villagomez, Carol Lyn Pierce and Kanae Quinn also turned in some excellent times.
Each swimmer could only enter in three individual events and one relay and many swam the maximum. Seven swimmers each won three individual events in their respective age divisions, including Birdie Carpenter, Rena Carlson, Carol Lyn Pierce, Colin Thompson, Tony Stearns, Danny Stern and Bill Sakovich.
The Saipan Swim Club, as organizer of the event, commends the sponsors who made the competition possible, and the officials who made sure the event would run smoothly.
