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Weightlifters leave for Vanuatu tomorrow
Ray Santos, seen in this file photo competing in the 2014 Micronesian Games in Pohnpei, is one of the two weightlifters who will represent the CNMI in the 10th Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu. (Contributed Photo)
Two CNMI weightlifters will be leaving for an early flight tomorrow to begin their journey to Port Vila, Vanuatu in time for the Dec. 4 opening ceremony of the 10th Pacific Mini Games at the Korman Stadium.
Ray Santos and Angel San Nicolas will be representing the Commonwealth in the quadrennial sporting event and will be accompanied in Vanuatu by CNMI Weightlifting Federation board member Greg Borja. They are expected to join chef de mission Richard Sikkel and Northern Marians Sports Association president Michael White in the parade of nations during the opening ceremony of the Mini Games.
CWF president John Davis said both lifters trained hard in preparation for their competition, which will run from Dec. 5 to 7 at the Epauto Seventh-day Adventist Junior Secondary School.
“They are excited about competing at the Mini Games. This will be the highest competition for them so far. Their previous competition level was the Micronesian Games,” Davis said.
Santos, who weighs 61.2kg, had previously won gold and silver medals in separate off-island competitions in the men’s 62kg weight class. He ruled his weight division in the 2015 Micronesia Weightlifting Invitational in Guam with lifts of 100kg in snatch, 120kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 220kg. Under the Sinclair method, he had a final tally of 321.154kg.
San Nicolas went home with silver medals in the men’s 92kg weight division after lifting 95kg in the snatch, and 125kg in the clean and jerk for a total lift of 220kg and a Sinclair score of 253.095.
Santos also won silver medals in the same weight class in the 2014 Micronesian Games in Pohnpei with a total of lift of 215kg—92kg in the snatch, and 126kg in the clean and jerk. His best lifts were 110kg in the snatch, and 136kg in the clean and jerk, while San Nicolas each had 113kg and 139kg. Santos has lifted 190kg, while San Nicolas posted 184kg in a trial weightlifting tournament held last October.
The two weightlifters are the only CNMI athletes who will participate in the opening ceremony, as the Commonwealth’s men’s 3×3 team and track squad won’t be leaving Saipan until Dec. 7.
