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CNMI begins bid in MAC today
CNMI team members and officials pose for a photo last Monday before they leave Saipan for Pohnpei to compete in the 2016 Micronesian Athletics Championships. (Contributed Photo)
Competition in the 2016 Micronesian Athletics Championships in Pohnpei will start today with the CNMI athletes seeing action in seven of the 22 events scheduled in the opener.
Chloe Salvosa will kick off the Commonwealth’s campaign in the regional championships as she joins the women’s U18 javelin throw—the fourth event in Day 1 behind the men’s and women’s 10,000m runs and the 100m hurdles of the heptathlon contest.
Salvosa, who is participating in her first off-island athletics tournament, is also entered in the U18 100m race, along with Bernadette Horey and Pinyarat Shankweiler. The three CNMI bets will be running against Palau’s Iesha Umayam, Chuuk’s Nepeufich Aunuwa, Nauru’s Enuwudu Dela Justen, and the host’s Darla Jonah.
In the women’s open 100m qualifying run, the Commonwealth has only one entry in Zarinae Sapong, who will be up against Chuuk’s Marie Carmella Robert, Sinsina Kau, and Milly-Ika-Lady Britt, the Marshall Islands’ Ilania Keju, and Pohnpei’s Lerissa Henry and Daimontra Paul.
The men’s open 100m preliminary heats are also set today with Ben Jones Jr. carrying the fight for the CNMI. Fifteen other runners are entered in the qualifying heat led by the favored Benon Kin of Chuuk and home bets Roy Elwise, Steve Mendiola, and Kitson Kapiriel.
After the men’s 100m heats and two more events in the women’s heptathlon, Shankweiler and Horey will return to the track to race in the 400m run. After her running event, Horey will proceed to the long jump area to join Salvosa in the U18 contest.
The men’s 400m preliminary races are also slated today with Beo Ngirchongor and Leowell Cristobal representing the CNMI. Fourteen other runners will compete in the men’s open 40m run.
In the men’s open discus throw, the Commonwealth has three bets in Sylvan Rangamar, Daniel Joab, and Nick Gross. The three CNMI athletes will be facing Pohnpei’s Daniel Ekiek and Dison Soumei, Guam’s Henry Lizama and Justin Andre, and Nauru’s Christophe Esela, and Joseph Dabana.
Meanwhile, the other members of the CNMI team—Conatsu Kaga and Jerald Castillo—will debut in the MAC tomorrow and the rest of the squad will have their other events this Saturday. Kaga is entered in the women’s U18’s 800m, 1,500m, and 3,000m runs, while Castillo will race in the 100m and 200m runs.
