53 Managaha escapees on the loose in Saipan

Tatuya Motoyama led a largely Japanese field of 53 swimmers through the clear waters between Managaha Island and Saipan’s Micro Beach on Saturday in the 3rd Annual Escape From Managaha Island Ocean Swim.

For the first time in three attempts, conditions were finally favorable to allow for the participants of the channel crossing to finish what they started, as Motoyama earned his way into future trivia contests by becoming the first to swimmer to complete the shore-to-shore journey.

The veteran open water swimmer traversed the three-kilometer distance in 37:09—just under three minutes faster than second-place finisher Kouichi Manago at 40:02—and said that he made the trip to the CNMI specifically for the race.

“My friends from the Umiou swim club have come here every year since it started and they told me that it was a great place and a nice race, so I decided to come and see it. I really enjoyed it. I want to come next year too, but I want to try the races they have in Tinian and Rota too,” said Motoyama.

A total of 11 members of Umiou swim club, which is Japanese for Ocean Kings, made the journey for the Escape with all finishing in less than 55 minutes, and they placed six swimmers in the top ten.

Yukiko Hashimoto was the fastest female escapee, as the Japanese native forded the fish-laden channel third overall in 40:11, followed by Youko Takita (40:18) and Ami Yoshida (40:22) of Umiou in second and third, respectively.

Of the 15 local swimmers, Rob Carruth was the first to escape as he touched the orange tetra hydra on the opposite shore in 43:26, followed by the PIC Clubmate Mieko Motoyoshi moments later at 44:09. Carolyn Pierce wasn’t far behind in third when she hit the sand running in 45:06 followed Jack Kabiriel (45:29) and Dirk Sharer (45:36) of this year’s CNMI triathlon team for the South Pacific Mini Games in Palau.

Eva Johnson and Marino Pungilug also represented the PIC with respectable finishes, as they reached Saipan proper in 54:57 and 54:59 respectively. Ty Izuka reached the giant orange pyramid at the finish line in 56:19, while fellow locals Sue Knecht (1:00:02) and Michael Johnson (1:01:36) were the next Saipan residents to finish.

Local multisport enthusiasts Joshua Berger (1:03:16) and Manny Sitchon (1:04:34) also completed the journey, as did Matt Johnson (1:16:05) and Akiko Hagiwara of Pacific Development, Inc. at (1:19:23).

Managing director of the Marianas Visitors Authority Vicky Benevente was on hand during the post-race awards ceremony at the Micro Beach pavilion and thanked members of the Department of Public Safety, MVA, Team PDI, TASI, the Saipan Swim Club, MNDOR, Seawind Marin Sports, and the volunteers who made the event possible.