5 Tsunami swimmers to compete in Guam
Five swimmers from Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan are heading for Hagatna before the year ends to compete in the Guam International Swim Meet.
The list include Rezne Wong, Kai Staal, Kensuke and Shin Kimura, and Marystar Welch.
All five Tsunami swimmers recorded “A” (US Standard Time) times, which was one of the criteria set by coach Hiro Kimura for selecting the club’s representatives to the Guam meet.
“It (standard) looks strict, but it is in the best interest of the club and its swimmers to send those who can compete in a high level tournament,” Kimura said.
He added that only swimmers whose practice attendance is not lower that 75 percent are allowed to compete in the Guam tournament, which will from Dec. 27 to 28.
Wong, Kensuke, and Staal are coming off record-breaking performances in the All Schools meet last month and are looking forward to break more records.
The 17-year-old Wong completed the 100m breaststroke race in one minute, 10.62 seconds, a new CNMI National Record. The previous mark was 1:10.91, which Wong himself set on May 30, 2008. His time in last month’s meet was also a new mark in the boys’ 17 to 18 age group with the Marianas High School student shattering his own record (1:10.91).
In the same Guam meet last year, Wong won five gold medals.
Staal set news records in the 50m and 100m freestyle swims during the All Schools meet and is aiming to break the 24-second barrier in the sprint swim. His record last month was 25.68 seconds.
Kensuke, who posted a new mark in the 400m freestyle (4:54.33) last month, won two gold medals and two silver in Guam last year, and is looking to rule the 50m, 100m, and 200m breaststrokes event in this year’s meet.
Older brother Shin took home one gold and two bronze medals last year and is hoping to shatter records in the 15-and-under age group.
Welch, the only rose among the thorns, is targeting to improve her silver-medal finish in last year’s meet and make new personal best times.
The Tsunami Saipan swimmers will leave on Dec. 26.
Club president Stan Good is extending their appreciation to individuals and companies which supported Tsunami’s fundraisers for off-island tournaments.
“In these tough economic times, numerous businesses have been very generous in helping Tsunami swimmers become successful in various tournaments,” Good said.
“The success of the team is based on a strong cooperation between the coach, swimmers, sponsors, and parents. It is Tsunami’s goal to continue to strengthen this bond and build a stronger team,” he added.
