Over 100 join All Schools qualifiers

Saipan International School’s Beatrice Gross competes in the girls U9 division’s long jump during the first day of qualifiers for the 15the Annual McDonald’s/PSS All Schools Track and Field Championships yesterday at Oleai Sports Complex track oval. (Jon Perez)

The series of qualifiers for the 15the Annual McDonald’s/PSS All Schools Track and Field Championships kicked off yesterday with more than 100 public and private elementary school students competing in four events at the Oleai Sports Complex’s track oval.

Under 7, U9, and U11 students in the girls and boys divisions lined up as they took turns in racing in the 60m, 100m, and 200m runs and participating in the long jump. Competitions in the same events will continue today.

Students in the three age groups were divided into several heats with the boys U7, U9, and U11 participants running at the oval, while the girls were competing in the long jump qualifiers. The six fastest runners in each heat will advance to the 15th Annual McDonald’s/PSS All Schools Track and Field Championships set from May 9 to 12, while the last two remaining spots are reserved for Rota and Tinian students.

After the first two days of the qualifiers for elementary students, competition will resume on April 16 and 17 and events lined up are the 400m, 800m, and 1500m runs, and softball throw.

While the final week of the qualifiers for elementary schools on Saipan is taking place, NMA development officer Elias Rangamar and Public School System athletics program director Nick Gross will be on Rota and Tinian next week to hold similar trials for the different age groups.

Meanwhile, competing next in the qualifiers are middle school students, who will be at the track on April 11 and 18, while the high school trials are set for April 12 and 19.

Middle school students—U13 and U15—will have qualifiers in the 60m, 100m 200m, runs, javelin throw, and long jump on April 11 and 400m, 800m, 1500m, and 3000m runs, and discus throw, shot put, and high jump) on April 18. High school students will have the following events on April 12: 60m, 100m, and 200m runs, and javelin throw, and long jump; and the 400m, 800m, 1500m, and 3000m runs, and discus throw, shot put, and high jump on April 19.

Schools are allowed to enter as many as three students in each event, while there is no limit in the middle (800m and 1500m) and long distance (3000m) runs. All schools will automatically qualify for the relay events.

Saipan Community School, Gregorio T. Camacho, William S. Reyes, Agape Christian School, Grace Christian Academy, Oleai, Kagman, Koblerville, Saipan International School, San Vicente, Garapan, Mt. Carme School, Tinian, Sinapalo, Green Meadows School, Northern Marianas International School, and Seventh-day Adventist School are entered in the elementary division, while Chacha, SCS, MBA, SIS, ACS, Francisco M. Sablan, Hopwood, Dandan, Tanapag, GCA, SDA, NMIS, and MCS are competing in middle school. Marianas High School leads the high school competitors and is joined by Kagman, Saipan Southern, ACS, MBA, SIS, MCS, and GCA.