The Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation has named four swimmers to their roster for the 2016 Oceanic Championships taking place next month in Suva, Fiji. The Northern Mariana Islands are located in the Pacific ocean between Japan and Indonesia.
The roster includes:
- Victoria Chentsova (F)
- Salofi Welch (M)
- Christian Villacrusis (M)
- Lennosuke Suzuki (M)
Bobby Winkfield has also been named the coach for the championships.
All four will make their Oceanic Championship debut. Chentsova has the most experience of the four, as she has competed at the last three Long Course World Championships in Shanghai, Barcelona and Kazan, as well as the previous two Short Course World Championships in Istanbul and Doha. Chentsova holds 11 individual national long course records for the Northern Mariana Islands.
Chentsova currently trains in Massachusetts, while the other three train under the Saipan Swim Club in their home country.
Villacrusis also has some international experience on resume, as he competed at the 2014 Short Course World Championships in the 100 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke.
Suzuki is the only male record holder, as he holds the 50, 100, 200 free and 200 IM national records in the 11-12 age group.
Read the article about the four swimmers competing in the Saipan Tribune here.