Tammy is Tsunami’s Rookie of the Year

Nine-year-old Miku Tammy turned out to be Tsunami Saipan Swimming Center’s prized recruit for the 2010-2011 season.

Tammy, who just learned to swim during the American Red Cross lessons last year, was handed the Tsunami Saipan Rookie of the Year award for her significant performance in her first year with the club.

The Tsunami Saipan tanker improved her times in every meet she competed in with the last one two weeks ago at the 2011 Guam Championship. Tammy participated in the Guam tournament for the first time and recorded personal best times in all of her five events.

In the 50m backstroke race, she timed in at 47.07 seconds, shaving more than two seconds from her previous PBT (49.63 seconds). Then in the 50m butterfly event, she timed in at 40.66 seconds, surpassing her 42.34 seconds mark. Tammy also topped that event, winning against six other swimmers.

In the 200m individual medley, Tammy was the runner-up with a time of 3:27.28, which was way ahead of her previous PBT of 3:44.90. Tammy also joined the 100m freestyle race and for the fourth time set a new PBT at 1:30.64, eclipsing her seed time of 1:31.60.

The 50m freestyle was Tammy’s last event in the competition and she clocked in at 38.75 seconds, which was faster than her previous PBT of 40.03 seconds.

“Next season, we really expect for more improvement from Miku,” Tsunami Saipan coach Hiro Kimura said.

Besides the Rookie of the Year award, Tsunami Saipan also honored other outstanding swimmers of the club during its recognition ceremony last Sunday at Marianas Resort.

Brothers Kaito, Ryuto, and Hiroto Yanai, Ryosei Toda, and Kensuke Kimura were cited for recording 90 percent in practice attendance. Then among these five swimmers, Tsunami Saipan awarded plaques to the two with the highest attendance rate. Kaito Yanai went on to win first place with his 97 percent, while Kimura settled for a runner-up spot with his 96 percent.

Tsunami Saipan also handed the Coach’s Award in three divisions.

Camela Trinidad won in the fitness class for attending all training sessions of the club, while Riyana Camacho took the same award for the beginners class after marking a BB time in a local meet and qualifying for the Guam tournament. The last Coach’s Award went to Ikusei Class’ Daime Rivera and Yuuki Nishida, who showed impressive performance during practice and local meets and attended almost all of Tsunami Saipan’s training sessions. The four awardees received medals for their feats.

Also getting recognition were Rezne Wong, Kai Staal, and Kensuke and Shin Kimura, who represented the CNMI to the 2010 Micronesian Games in Palau.