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Bennett, Abrams make CNMI proud
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Posted on Dec 30 2011
By Roselyn Monroyo
Reporter
Reporter
CNMI runners Yvonne Bennett and Rachel Abrams participated in different tournaments, but brought the same honors to the Commonwealth this year.
Bennett led the four-athlete CNMI Team that competed in the 2011 Oceania Regional Championships in Apia, Samoa in June. Also on the squad were Clayton Kenty, Ryan Ichihara, and Sylvan Rangamar.
In Samoa, Bennett shattered two records and won one gold medal and two bronze. She clocked in at 12.52 seconds in the qualifying heat for the 100m run in the first day of the competition to break both the CNMI and Micronesian marks (12.68 seconds), which she posted in the 2010 Micronesian Games in Palau. In Day 2, she logged 25.67 seconds in the qualifying heat for the 200m race, eclipsing both the CNMI and Micronesian records (26.41 seconds), which she also made Palau last year.
Bennett then saved her best for last, clinching the gold medal in the 400m race. Bennet clocked in at 57.66 seconds to beat Papua New Guinea’s Venessa Waro (57.85 seconds) and Guam’s Naomi Blaz (60.12).
Less than three months after Bennett’s triumph in Samoa, it was Abrams’ turn to give pride to the CNMI.
The 16-year-old sprinter joined the 200m race in the 2011 Pacific Games at the Stade Numa Daly in Noumea, New Caledonia and advanced to the finals.
Abrams completed the race in 27.46 seconds to finish second on Heat 3 and join top finisher Papua New Guinea’s Venessa Waro (26.06 seconds) in the finals. Abrams was the first CNMI runner to march into the finals of the Pacific Games.
