New, repeat winners in Turkey Trot Run

Finishers in yesterday’s 32nd Annual Mt. Tapochao Turkey Trot Run pose for a group photo. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Familiar faces and newcomers topped the 32nd Annual Mt. Tapochao Turkey Trot Run held yesterday.

Charlie Sendin, who won the open division of the 2013 edition of the 4.2-mile trek from Lower Base to the highest peak on the island, was the overall top finisher in the race after checking in at 40:23. Other former winners who ruled their respective divisions in this year’s event were Conatsu Kaga, Jeff Race, Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel, while Lydia and Tania Tan, Clayton Izuka, Akira Kadokura, Aoi Braxton, Ben Bishop, Emily Northtop, Edward Russel, Jennifer Cui, and Sakiko Eda prevailed in their age groups for the first time.

Bishop, who is on island to visit a friend, was the second overall finisher and reigned supreme in the open division after registering 41:56.

“It was fun. It rained at the start of the race and on the way up so it was cold and I liked it because it helped me finish the race much easier,” Bishop said.

Bishop shared the top honors in the open class with women’s division’s Northtop, who clocked in at 58:15.

Conatsu, who previously dominated the girls U12 division of the annual race, posted the fastest time (51:28) in the entire women’s field to clinch first place. In the boys U17, first-time Clayton Izuka triumphed after logging 42:35, while Tan also won her debut and bagged the first place honors in the girls U17 after submitting 56:34.

Lydia duplicated her daughter’s feat after lording it over in the women’s over 50 category with a time of 1:05:34. Race picked up where he left off last year, getting the No.1 spot in the men’s over 50 age group anew after reaching the finish line at the 47:15 mark.

In the 40 to 49 division, Kabiriel was ranked first in the men’s after clocking in at 45:21, while Eda prevailed in the women’s side with her 51:28. Two Saipan Swim Club members—Akira Kadokura and Aoi Braxton—proved they are not only good in swimming, but also in running after winning the U12 age group with times of 1:03.50 and 1:13.35, respectively.

The first place overall finishers in the men’s and women’s divisions received lunch certificates from the race sponsors, while the age group winners got turkey. Raffle prizes were also given to the participants.

Yesterday’s race drew 138 runners with most of them made up of sports and fitness groups. MP United Football Club’s soccer moms, SSC swimmers, Trench Tech fighters, tennis players, and Get Fit CNMI members were among the participants, along with U.S. Army Reserve members and their families.