 Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 4:00 pm Post subject: CNMI, Marshalls duel in swimming looms |
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The Marshall Islands will be the CNMI's fiercest rival in the medal rich swimming competition in the 7th Micronesian Games, following the reported absence of Guam swimmers in Palau.
Pacific Daily News reported early this month that Guam will not be sending a swimming team to Palau next month. An e-mail sent to Guam Swimming Federation and the Guam National Olympic Committee, asking for confirmation on the swim team's absence in the Micro Games and its reason, has yet to be answered at press time.
Guam won 22 gold medals, 14 silver, and seven bronze in the swimming competition in the 6th Micronesian Games on Saipan in 2006, beating the host CNMI, which earned 15 gold medals, 19 silver, and 15 bronze.
With Guam swimmers out for next month's competition, the CNMI is favored to haul the most medals in the Games. However, CNMI men's team coach Hiro Kimura said despite Guam's absence, the Commonwealth's swimmers should not be complacent, as the Marshall Islands, which claimed one gold, three silver, and five bronze in the 2006 Micro Games, is expected to give them a tough time.
According Kimura's scouting reports, the Marshall Islands will have six top-caliber male swimmers competing in the Micro Games.
First on the list is Jared Heine, a member of the University of Florida swim team and an Olympic veteran. Heine timed in at 58 seconds in the 100m backstroke during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Giordan Harris is another Olympian for the Marshall Islands and a veteran of world championship and other regional games in the Pacific. He is good in short distance races.
Also suiting up for the Marshall Islands' men's team are Jake Villareal and Shawn Brady, who both competed in the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome. Villareal's best time in the 50m freestyle is 26.88 seconds. Completing the team are Jonathan Bishop and Michael Taylor. Bishop is the Marshall Islands' No. 1 bet in breaststroke. His best time in the 50m breaststroke is 32.64 seconds. Taylor joined the Micro Games on Saipan in 2006 and recorded 29.16 seconds in the 50m butterfly in Rome last year.
The Marshall Islands swimmers will go up against Rezne Wong, Kai Staal, Kensuke and Shin Kimura, Andrew Kimball, Michael Moran Jr., and Junior Pamaran.
“It will not be an easy competition for us, even though Guam is not going to Palau. The Marshall Islands has strong swimmers. We have to do our very best in every race and strive to win,” the older Kimura said.
He added besides the Marshall Islands, there are two Pohnpei swimmers and one Palau bet who may give the CNMI representatives a run for their money.
Hiro Kimura is talking of Pohnpei's Hadley Kerson and Tony Augustine. Kerson won the gold medal in the 200m backstroke during the 2006 Micro Games. His best times include 26.15 seconds (50m freestyle), 29.71 second (50m backstroke), and 27.50 seconds (50m butterfly). Augustine was also a participant in the 2006 Micronesian Games and made it to the finals of several events.
For Palau, the CNMI has to watch Liam Bornovski, who holds the island's best time of 28 seconds in the 50m freestyle.
“He is still young, but is getting faster in every tournament he joined in,” Hiro Kimura said.
The swimming competition at the Palau National Swimming Pool will run from Aug. 2 to 5.
By Roselyn Monroyo
Saipan Tribune |
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