NMI to field over 20 in regional championships

Leo Cristobal, running fourth, competes in the 1, 500m race during the 2016 Micronesian Athletics Championships in Pohnpei. (Contributed Photo)

The Northern Marianas Athletics is looking to field over 20 athletes in the 2018 Oceania Micronesian Regional Championships, according to its president Ramon A. Tebuteb.

Saipan will host the biennial event at the Oleai Sports Complex from June 14 to 16 with the local organizing committee, also headed by Tebuteb, expecting more than 200—composed of athletes, coaches, and technical officials—to participate in the three-day event.

Tebuteb said NMA developmental officer Elias Rangamar will be conducting the qualifying events for the CNMI team that will see action in the Oceania Micronesian Regional Championships and also in the 9th Micronesian Games in Yap from July 15 to 27.

The qualifiers will be held on separate days, starting on April 30 and will continue on May 19 and June 1 and 2.

“As much as possible, we’re looking to have a competitive team with us being the hosts. We also want to use the regional championships to take us to the next level with the next one is the Micro Games in Yap,” said Tebuteb.

In the past Micronesian regionals, the Commonwealth athletes did not only win medals, but also set records.

Four CNMI athletes are record-holders in the biennial event led by veteran long distance runner Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel, who competed in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase and posted the best time of 11:53.57 in August 2009 in Gold Coast, Australia. Yvonne Bennett holds the record in the women’s 400m run with a time of 1:02.91, while Jacqueline Wonenberg’s 4.66-meter mark in women’s long jump still stands with both achieving the feat also in Gold Coast. Noriko Jim is the record holder in the women’s 5,000m run with a time of 19:44.28, earning the mark when Saipan hosted the event in December 2005.

Meanwhile, Tebuteb is thanking the community, especially the administration of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and the CNMI Legislature, for their commitment in helping the local organizing committee.

The LOC is composed of Tebuteb as chair with NMA secretary general Robin Sapong as vice chair, Lynn Duenas as secretary, and other NMA officials as members. Duenas also heads the finance, and accommodations and food committees, while Sapong is the competition and post events lead person. Gordon Marciano is in charge of transportation and entertainment, Lawrence Camacho heads the venue, and Corine Santos is nominated to lead the volunteers group.