Staal nears ‘T16’ time in Tsunami time trial

Kai Staal moved closer to making it to the national reportable times (T16) when he clocked in at 26.67 seconds in the 50m freestyle during the Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan time trial Friday at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool in Marpi.

Staal’s time received an AAAA ranking in the U.S. standard time. The Four A is the highest in the National Age Group Time progressions and is equivalent to 97 percent of the Top 16 National Reportable Times.

NRT or T16 represents a level that a swimmer must surpass to submit his name for consideration in the annual Top 16 list. The annual rankings are published in the Swimming World magazine and each qualifier receives certification from USA Swimming. Swimmers earning a NRT are in the Top 1 percent of the American Age Group swimmers.

The 13-year-old Staal also swam in the 200m individual medley, posting 2:32.77, which got an AA grade. A Double A level is equal to 87 percent of NRT.

Rezne Wong finished ahead of Staal in the 50m freestyle swim with the former, recording 26.06 seconds. But Wong’s mark got only a Triple A grade based on his age group standard (16-18 years old).

A Triple A mark is equivalent to 93 percent of NRT.

The 17-year-old Wong received another Triple A grade in the 200m individual medley swim when he clocked in at 2:19.60.

Seventeen other Tsunami swimmers participated in the time trial event last week.

Kensuke Kimura got Double A marks in the 200m and 50m breaststroke swims, clocking in at 3:04.57 and 40.44 seconds, respectively.

Kensuke’s older brother, Shin, netted an A grade in the 50m freestyle, posting 28.67 seconds

An A grade is equal to 84 percent of NRT.

Cooper Graf also participated in two events, joining the 200m and 50m butterfly. His time of 2:43.88 in the longer race earned him a Double B mark, which is equal to 75 percent of NRT. The 16-year-old Graf recorded 32.06 seconds in the 50m butterfly swim.

Kaito Yanai received Double B grades in both the 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly swims, timing in at 1:24.4 and 46.87 seconds, respectively.

Kaisei Toda had a BB mark in the 50m free (37.07 seconds), B in the 200m free (2:57.38), and C in the 50m butterfly (52.63 seconds).

Marystar Welch also recorded a Double B in the 50m freestyle swim with her 34.47 seconds. She swam in the 200m individual medley, but got only a B mark after timing in at 3:07.44.

Other Tsunami swimmers received B and C marks in the club’s first time trial this fall season.

A B mark is equivalent to 68 percent of NRT.