NMA holds All Schools qualifier on Tinian

Participants and organizers of the All Schools qualifier on Tinian pose for a group photo last weekend at the Tinian track and field facility. (Contributed Photo)

Northern Marianas Athletics officials went to Tinian last weekend to hold a qualifying tournament for the 2016 PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships.

The qualifier was for the boys U14 and U18 age groups and took place at the Tinian Junior High and High School track facility.

In the 60m qualifier, Charlene Danganan topped the girls U14 field after clocking in at 9.11 seconds, while Chelsea Ayuyu prevailed in the U18 division after logging 9.36 seconds. Ayuyu also won the 100m run with her 15.59 seconds, beating Kay Laguna (17). Laguna fought back in the 200m after submitting 37.55 seconds, while Renuka Shrestha got twin wins in the girls U14 100m (15.59) and 200m (32.80).

In the boys U14, Tyler Santos won the 60m (8:13), 100m (13.90), and 200m (29.48). In the U18 division, Zachariah Hofschneider duplicated Santos’ three-peat, registering 7.61 seconds in the 60m, 12.13 in the 100m, and 25.57 in the 200m.

In the middle distance races, Peter Ray Manglona reigned after recording 6:57 and 13:29 in the 1,500m, and 3,000m, respectively, while Ryan Guevarra and Michael Cabulay topped the 800m and 400m qualifiers. Cabulay posted 1:01.17 in his race, while Guevarra logged 2:38.31.

In the field events, Zachariah Hofschneider was also unstoppable as he registered 13.44m and 29.3m in the shotput and discus throws. Michael Naputi came in at second both in shotput (11.5m) and discus (27.15). John Dona placed third in the discus with his 22.02m, while Rasell Fnu rounded out the Top 3 in shotput after tallying 10.68m.

In the girls division, Ayuyu and Sirena Desebel joined the discus and submitted 14.60m and 12.11m, respectively.

Meanwhile, NMA has yet to announce how many Tinian athletes qualified for the All Schools meet, which will be held from May 4 to 7 at the Hopwood Junior High School.

Hopwood is also the host of Saipan qualifiers, which have already started last Monday.

Due to lack of time and unavailability of the Oleai Sports Complex track facility, each school will only have one chance to earn qualifying slots to next month’s competition.

Today, the qualifier is for middle school and events lined up from 4pm to 6:30pm are 60m, 100m, and 200m run, and javelin throw. Schools scheduled to compete are Chacha, Dandan, Mt. Carmel, Whispering Palms, Saipan International School, Marianas Baptist Academy, Hopwood, and Saipan Community School.

Tomorrow, Marianas High School, Kagman, Saipan Southern, Agape Christian School, MBA, SIS, and Hopwood will join the 60m, 100m, and 200m run, and javelin qualifiers. The series of qualifiers will continue until next week (April 25 to 28), while all schools automatically gain slots to relays.