National Records lowered by Palau
These Games are a proud moment for Palau, not only are they hosting them for the first time in 20 years but they’re hosting aquatics for the first time ever at a Pacific Mini Games. No fewer than eight Palauan swimmers were in action on Day 2.
The heats produced two National Records in the morning. These were in the Men’s 100m Butterfly and 50m Breaststroke events. Charlie Gibbons almost broke the one minute barrier in posting 1-00.69 for the Butterfly. Earlier, hometown swimmer Jion Hosei who has been swimming for 10 years clocked 30.93 to set a new national mark for the Men’s 50m Breaststroke.
More was to come during finals’ evening in the long-distance event of 800m Freestyle. Yuri Hosei, sister of Jion, took a personal best time home to share with her brother, a time of 10-40.54 in the Women’s event. Shortly afterwards, both Travis Sakurai, Erungel Williams and Travis Sakurai broke personal bests in the Men’s longer distance event. Erungel just missed out on a bronze medal for the proud host nation.
Words & interviews: The Reporters’ Academy. Photos: Ryota Nishida