Record field in SIS 5K Fun Run

The 11th Saipan International School 5K Fun Run drew a record number with more than 200 runners joining the race last Saturday.

“We had 199 registered runners, but the number is more than 200, as there were several others who did the course, but did not officially register,” SIS’ Mili Saiki said.

XTERRA World-bound Butch Sublemente was the overall top finisher of the fun run course that started and ended at the Banzai Cliff with runners heading to as far as the Cowtown Raceway. Sublemente timed in at 22 minutes and 10 seconds, about two minutes behind the 2010 winning time of last year’s champion Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel.

Completing the Top 3 were SIS student Dakota Hall and Michael Towle, who had a neck-and-neck race to the finish line. Hall submitted 22:56 seconds against Towle’ 22:57. Hall was the age group winner in the boys U18 division.

Middle distance runner Tammy Ackerman ruled the girls U18, while Mamiko Oshima-Berger was the first women’s finisher and defended her title.

Mamiko Oshima-Berger ran with her dog and timed in at 24:28, two seconds faster than her 2010 winning time. She prevailed over Natasha Kuckuck (26:15) and Rebecca Iseman (26:17).

Ackerman logged 27:09 to reign in the girls U18, while other youth runners who had notable finishes in the weekend race were 10-year-old Logan Mister, 11-year-old John Auther, and 6-year-old Soleil Lamar. Mister recorded 26:14 to top the boys U10, while Lamar clocked in at 36:32 to prevail in the girls U10. Auther finished in the Top 10 overall, beating adult runners with his 25:19.

The weekend race was originally scheduled to start at 7pm, but began about 10 minutes later due to the huge turnout. Despite the late start, participants enjoyed a nice race, as good weather greeted them during the morning run.

“Mother Nature has always been good to us. In 11 years of doing this race, we had rain only one and it happened when almost all the runners had made it to the finish line,” Saiki added.

This year’s SIS Fun Run is supported by Subway, Mobil, Delta Management, Misoya, Dining and Bar 747, Marianas Eye Institute, Smile Marianas, Brother’s Oriental Medicine Clinic, Mobil, PIC, Deloitte, Micronesian Marine, Fishing and Tackle, Mariana Resort, Auntie Song, 360, Ananas, Hyatt, ATOM’S, Sean and Anne, Saipan Grand Hotel, Fiesta Resort & Spa, Brabu, Marianas Medical Center, and Lollipops.