Dangol resets 6 CNMI age group marks

Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation certified the six age group records Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan’s Ashley Dangol registered during last month’s 2015 Guam Championships at the Hagatna Pool.

Tsunami Saipan’s Ashley Dangol races in the 50m butterfly event in last month’s 2015 Guam Championships at the Hagatna Pool. (Contributed Photo)

Dangol made the girls U8 records in the 50m and 200m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m and 100m butterfly, and 200m individual medley, eclipsing the age group marks she also owned.

In the 50m freestyle, Dangol clocked in at 36.36 seconds, which is faster than the 37.17 seconds she logged on March 14, 2015 during the SSC International Invitational Swim Meet at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool. In the 200m freestyle, Dangol broke the three-minute mark with her 2:52.08, more than eight seconds faster than the old age group mark (3:00.82) she set on the same day of the SSC-organized tournament this year.

In the 50m backstroke, the Brilliant Star student submitted 43.51 seconds in the Guam meet to surpass the 43.69 seconds she posted on Jan. 24, 2015 during the SSC Pentathlon Swim Meet. In another sprint event—the 50m butterfly—Dangol timed in at 37.64 seconds, which is better than her previous age group record of 39.17 seconds she tallied on Dec. 13, 2014 during the 2014-2015 NMISF Mid-Season Meet.

Dangol’s 100m butterfly age group record was also reset as she finished the same event in the Guam meet at 1:28.68, more than three seconds faster than the 1:31.98 mark she posted on March 14, 2015. She then chopped off over two seconds from her record in the 200m IM (3:16.13/March 14, 2015) after clocking in at 3:13.76 in the Guam meet last month.

“At the final meet in this season, although Ashley couldn’t update her 100m freestyle record she was awesome since she made six records,” Tsunami Saipan coach Hiro Kimura said.

Dangol logged 1:24.17 in the 100m freestyle race, failing to shatter the record (1:21.84) she registered on March 14, 2015.

“The time is over AAA (age group standard time) and very close to AAAA time. For Tsunami Saipan, time standard is also very important and the same as CNMI record. Ashley’s 50m butterfly time is over AAAA. It is amazing. In the new season, Ashley will move up to an older age group (9-10). We are looking forward to seeing her perform in the new age group,” the Tsunami Saipan mentor added.

The confirmation of Dangol’s six age group marks was made through an email NMISF official Carol-Lynn Calobong-Pierce sent to Kimura.

Besides earning six CNMI age group marks, Dangol also brought home the top high-point award from the Guam tournament after ruling all her seven events and collecting 63 points in the annual competition.