Dibens to lead cast in XTERRA Saipan

Reigning world champion Julie Dibens of the United Kingdom will be leading the strong field of professional triathletes for next month’s XTERRA Saipan Championship.

Wolf Mojica, of organizer Taga Inc., said some 60 amateur and professional athletes have already registered with two weeks left in the most anticipated sports event of the year.

The cast will also include Andrew Noble and Renata Bucher, who will be defending their titles in the men’s and women’s divisions.

Both have won the Pacific Islands Club doubles last year.

Dibens won in 2007 on Saipan but her biggest triumph came at the XTERRA World Championships in Maui, Hawaii, in October of the same year and she reigned supreme anew in 2008.

The XTERRA Saipan Championship is the centerpiece event for next month’s annual Saipan Sportfest, which is set to start April 15 with several activities including the XTERRA University right on the first day.

Mojica said that there were already 10 people registered for the XTERRA University, where the pro triathletes would be sharing their skills and knowledge during this refresher course.

The XTERRA University will be followed by the XTERRA Sunset Trail run (5k and 10k) on April 17 (Friday) at 5pm at American Memorial Park.

The XTERRA Saipan Championship and XTERRA Sport will be on April 18.

These events will start simultaneously 6:30am near the Micro Beach Pavilion.

Also to be staged during the day is the XTERRA Kids Bike Race, which will happen around 8am.

Mojica said two teams have so far submitted entries and several people have signified intention to join the XTERRA Sport.

Several other pros from Europe and three so far from Japan will be arriving crowding the top favorites.

Japanese pro Taro Shirato will be conducting the XTERRA University for the Japanese participants.

Because of some ongoing construction at the American Memorial Park, organizers will move the main XTERRA compound about 200 feet from the original location.

Mojica said that parts of the XTERRA run are open and many local athletes are already practicing.

Registration for all of the events, XTERRA Saipan Championship (individual and team), XTERRA Sport (individual and team), the XTERRA Sunset Trail Run, the Tagaman Triathlon, and Tagaman Triathlon Team can be made online at www.saipansports.com, or at the Marianas Visitors Authority in Oleai.

Organizers promised that during this week of big sporting events, there would be five days of social and athletic activities for everyone to enjoy.

The official website is www.saipansports.com.

The Tagaman Triathlon will begin at the Pacific Islands Club beach at 6am on April 25 with finish line at Micro Beach.

Mojica advised the public that the Micro Beach Road will be closed from Middle Road to the finish line.

“So if you want to see the finish, get there before 8am or park at Smiling Cove and walk over. There will be food available for sale and it is very exciting,” he said.

The XTERRA Sunset Trail Run cost is $15 and will include a T-shirt and medals for top finishers.

Mojica said that $5 from each registration will go to the Marianas Tourism Education Council.

TAGA, Inc. is looking for volunteers for both the XTERRA Saipan Championship and Tagaman, to assist police in directing and controlling traffic, manning water and feed stations, and help to direct athletes at different areas of the course.

Those interested in helping out can send an email to wolf@saipan.com.