Sprinters are tops in McDonald’s meet

Northern Marianas Athletics recognized four sprinters as the most outstanding athletes of the recent 2006 McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships during an awards ceremony yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Making the top of the list were national record breakers Jacque Wonenberg and Tyrone Omar, as well as rising stars Reylynn Sapong and Jonathan Welson.

As reported earlier, Wonenberg, who represented Hopwood Junior high School, won four gold medals while breaking three women’s national records, accomplishing the feat in the 100m, 200m, and 400m sprints.

Wonenberg was as quick as lightning in the 100m as she took top honors with ease while raising the bar with a time of 13.63 seconds.

The 200m sprint had the same result as the Sadog Tasi resident continued to shine as she completed the half-lap challenge in a quick 27.87 seconds.

Still far from done, Wonenberg laced up again in the 400m race and dominated to finish well ahead of the pack for a time of 1:02.34.

She then won another gold in the 4X100m relay as HJHS finished ahead of all teams in 59.32 seconds.

For his part, Omar did not disappoint as he broke the CNMI men’s record in the 200m sprint. Suiting up for Marianas High School, the 18-year-old exploded off the blocks and handled the curve with ease to take top honors in 23.21 seconds.

Omar also struck gold in the 100m dash as he completed the challenge in 11.32 seconds. He also medalled in the high jump after leaping for a height of 1.70 meters, then struck gold again in the boys’ 4X100m relay.

For her part, Sapong was phenomenal in the girls’ 11-and-under competition. The Koblerville Elementary School student also earn four gold medals, putting up the best performances in the 100m, 200m, and 400m before anchoring her team to gold in the 4X100m relay.

Sapong showed her strength on the track as she burned rubber and finished the 100m in 15.10 seconds. She then challenged the 200m and conquered in 30.90 seconds, and followed with another impressive performance as she maintained her speed and made a strong push in the final meters to hold on for gold in a time of 1:12.53.

Welson, meanwhile, had his golden moments on the track as the Cha Cha Oceanview Junior High School student struck gold in the 100m, 200m, and 4X100m relay, and also took silver in the long jump.

Welson showed good form in 100m and proved to be the fastest in his age category by completing the task in 12.61 seconds.

He then made it two-for-two by taking the 200m in 27.18 seconds and won silver in the long jump with a distance of 4.32 meters.

His day was complete when he helped his school win first place in the relay.