Make-up qualifiers for All Schools meet

The Northern Marianas Athletics will resume the qualifiers for the 2018 McDonald’s/Public School System All Schools Athletics Championship with make-up events spread in three days, starting tomorrow at the Oleai track and field oval.

The make-up qualifying events, which will take place from April 24 to 26, are for all the schools and athletes that missed the early days of the qualifiers and for the postponed trials due to inclement weather and time constraints.

“If a school or their runners had already run or participated, then they can no longer come here and join the make-up dates for the qualifiers,” NMA developmental officer Elias Rangamar told Saipan Tribune.

“There are instances that some schools try to sneak in some of their athletes who did not qualify the first time. As much as possible, we’re trying to prevent that to avoid confusion and the additional task for us in sorting out all the names and the records,” he added.

High school students will be the first to have their make-up qualifiers as they take the field tomorrow for the 60m 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1,500m runs and javelin throw.

Saipan’s middle schoolers will have their turn on Wednesday, April 25, in the same running events along with the javelin, shot put, and discus throws.

Thursday, April 26, will be the final day of the make-up qualifying events for elementary students in the same running events and softball throw.

Each school, like in the relays, will also automatically qualify in the 3,000m run with a maximum number of five participants in each age group in the boys and girls divisions.

Rangamar also reminded coaches of each school to check if their athletes are in the right age categories and not turning a year older during the All Schools championships—from May 9 to 12.

Meanwhile, Rangamar thanked Rota and Tinian for helping him and Public School System athletics program director Nick Gross when they visited the islands last week for their separate qualifying events.

“We would like to thank all the coaches for getting their athletes and officials ready during our visit. I would also like to ask their coaches to submit their results if they haven’t done it yet. Please indicate the names of the athletes that would be participating in the All Schools Championships,” the NMA official said.