Competitors showcase teamwork, perseverance

Two male participants in last Saturday’s KONQER Saipan King of the Hill pull up their teammate. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Teamwork and perseverance were in full display in last Saturday’s KONQER Saipan King of the Hill as hundreds completed the obstacle course race made even tougher by the rainy weather.

Don Cabrera finished the course ahead of his friends, but instead of leaving the Gov. Eloy S. Inos Peace Park to clean up as he was covered with mud, he stayed and helped them survive the obstacles. He shouted instructions to his friends having difficulty tackling the monkey bars and gave others a lift to climb a couple of walls.

“We came here together, we will finish together. Once I am done, I knew I could show them how to get through the obstacle the much easier way. I don’t want to leave them behind, so I came back and helped them,” said Cabrera.

One of Cabrera’s teammates did the same thing to not one, but two other participants, letting them climb the wall first. A female participant stepped on his back and then shoulder to go up in the last wall along the course, while the former’s companion was next, getting a lift from the former’s hands.

Over at the 15-foot wall, Rommel Buenaflor and his fellow Triathlon Association of the CNMI members formed a human ladder to help children and other young participants reach the top. They also teamed up in holding the back of their not so young member as he tackled the cross bar.

“Though we were in the race, we were still concern of our and others’ safety, especially the children, so we helped them out. They tend to be careless because they are so excited, so we watched out for them. As for our TRAC members, we want to make sure everybody completes the race, so we’re really working together in every obstacle,” Buenaflor said.

“When you know your teammates and other participants are there to back you up and help you go through the obstacle, you’re not afraid to fall and commit mistakes,” said the sexagenarian Dan Calvo.

Tania Tan, one of the more than 30 Saipan International School students who braved KONQER Saipan, also had a rough time completing most of the intimidating obstacles in her first try, but she soldiered on and kept trying until she reached the finish line.

“Some of the courses did in fact intimidate me, such as the 15-foot wall and the ‘V’ shaped monkey bars. As the weather was not at its best as well, the obstacle course was very slippery, muddy, and wet making it even more difficult to accomplish. Our team was able to survive through it with all the support we gave each other and the cheering from the crowd. Those aspects motivated us to keep going and trying to complete the course,” the SIS junior said, adding that competing in KONQER Saipan also taught her life lessons.

“No matter how hard it may get at times, if one perseveres and believes that she can do it, she will be able to accomplish her goals. Our whole team gave as much support throughout the course. We always encouraged each another and were optimistic about overcoming the obstacles and achieving them,” Tan said.