NORTHERN MARIANAS, 3 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
Northern Marianas meant business today, setting three National Records and bringing home three medals. Isaiah Roger Aleksenko’s performance yesterday has proven to be more than just luck, as he took another Gold medal in today’s 100m Butterfly with a rapid 52:27 seconds. Isaiah spoke of how amazing and motivating Palau and its crowd has been. Isaiah has now gained three gold medals, and explains that, “It feels good to make his people proud.” He’s certainly one to keep an eye out for, and can be found racing in Wednesday’s 50m Butterfly and 4x200m Freestyle Relay Heats.
Taking her second medal of the games is Maria Corazon Ayson Batallones, bagging a silver and a National Record in the 50m Breastroke. Maria was very proud of her result,
“My time is really good, I cut from my prelims time so I’m really happy about that.”
Maria had razor like focus throughout her race she explained,
“All that I kept repeating in my head was ‘BLAST IT’, because it’s 50, so I really wasn’t thinking and I just let my body do the work.”.
In the Men’s 800m Freestyle Kean James Sy Pajarillaga brought home a bronze medal. Kean was “satisfied that he went under 9 minutes”, and rightly so, achieving a National Record with a 8:59.35 finish.
Isaiah Roger Aleksenko, Maria Corazon Ayson Batallones, Kean James Sy Pajarillaga and Frances Rodelia Raho made the 4×50 Medley Mixed Relay. Although the team just missed bronze, their strong performance was still impactful, achieving a National Record with their 1:50.42 finish.
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Words & interviews: The Reporters’ Academy. Photos: Ryota Nishida