Suzuki swims faster in finals

The CNMI’s Lennosuke Suzuki, seen here getting out of the pool during the 12th Oceania Swimming Championships in Papua New Guinea last June, completed his participation in the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships 2018 in Japan yesterday. (Contributed Photo)

The CNMI’s Lennosuke Suzuki made another finals appearance in the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships 2018 and registered a faster time last Saturday at the Tatsumi International Swimming Center in Tokyo, Japan.

Suzuki raced in the 200m individual medley and clocked in at 2:27.07 on Heat 1 to advance to the B finals. He went on to post a faster time in the finale after checking in at 2:25.64. The U.S.’ Chase Tyler Kalisc recorded the best time out of the three heats in the event with his 1:57:07 to lead seven other qualifiers and he also took the gold medal after timing in at 1:55.40 in the finals. Australia’s Mitchelle Larkin (1:56.21) and Japan’s Kosuke Hagino (1:56.66) got the silver and bronze, respectively.

Meanwhile, Suzuki competed in two more events over the weekend, as he raced in the 100m freestyle swim last Friday and the 50m freestyle yesterday.

The CNMI swimmer was on Heat 2 of the preliminaries in the 100m freestyle and clocked in at 57.73 seconds. The U.S’ Zachary Douglas Apple topped the qualifiers with his 48.03 seconds, but faltered on his medal bid, as Australia’s Kyle Chalmers (48 seconds) and Jack Cartwright (48.22) took the gold and silver, respectively. Cartwright shared the runner-up honors with the U.S.’ Caleb Remi Dressel, while Brazil’s Marcelo Chierighini (48.36 seconds) earned the bronze after finishing ahead of Apple (48.47 seconds).

In the 50m freestyle, Suzuki registered 26.58 seconds and beat Guam’s Mark Imazu (27.99 seconds) and fellow CNMI swimmer Nelson Batallones (29.74 seconds). Michael Charles Andrew of the U.S. ruled the qualifier after logging 21.83 seconds on Heat 4 and was joined in the finals by Chierigchini (22.34 seconds), Japan’s Shinri Shioura (22.30), Katsumi Nakamura (22.21), Dressel (22.17), Canada’s Yuri Kisil (22.68), Brazil’s Pedro Spajari (22.32), and New Zealand’s (22.51). The gold medal race in the 50m freestyle took place last night, but results of the finals were unavailable as off press time.

Meanwhile, Batallones, before competing in the 50m freestyle yesterday, did the 200m butterfly last Friday and the 100m butterfly last Saturday. He touched the block at the 2:32.92 mark during the 200m butterfly race and then posted 1:08.95 in the shorter 100m butterfly. Japan’s Daiya Seto (1:54.34) won the gold medal in the 200m butterfly (1:54.34), while Dressel reigned supreme in the 100m butterfly after setting a new championship record (50.75 seconds).

Both Batallones and Suzuki were done with their events in the Pan Pacific meet and headed home last night with coach Jacoby Winkfield.

“It was a great experience. Witnessing world class swimming, having exposure to the world of being a swimmer, and knowing what it takes to swim at this level are just a few of the things the boys and I have experienced. We are thankful to the Japan Swimming Federation for the opportunity to grow as swimmers, coaches, and swimming federation,” Winkfield told Saipan Tribune.