Abrams, Schmidt deliver

Multi-sport athlete Rachel Abrams handed the CNMI its first gold medal in the 9th Micronesian Games after ruling the women’s high jump event yesterday at the Matson Yap Sports Complex.

Unofficial results had Abrams posting 1.36 meters in the high jump to win the gold—the Commonwealth’s second medal in athletics as Zarinae Sapong won the first (silver) in the 100m run last Monday. Later after Abrams’ triumph in the women’s division, Douglas Schmidt gave Team Marianas its third medal—a silver—after placing runner-up in the men’s long jump.

The complete results of the Day 2 events in athletics were unavailable as of press time. The shot put throw (women’s), 5,000m run (men’s and women’s), 400m run (men’s and women’s) and octathlon were the other events scheduled in the second day of the competition.

In the first day, the CNMI’s Jamie Pangelinan was just one step away from making it to the podium after placing fourth in the javelin throw. She recorded 21.39m to finish behind Guam’s Genie Gerardo (28.17m), Pohnpei’s Sandonia Likor (24.75m), and Palau’s Amaya Ngirkelau (22.22m).

In the 100m run, Sapong did not only earn a silver medal, but also set a new personal best time with her 13.12 seconds in the finals. Sapong clocked in at 13.19 in the qualifier for the second best time overall behind eventual gold medal winner Regine Tugade (12.38 seconds) of Guam.

Pangelinan also qualified in the finals with her 13.83 seconds in the preliminary heat. She submitted 14.08 seconds in the gold medal race for eighth place.

In the women’s long jump Pangelinan was ranked fifth with her 4.33m, while Jerlyn Castillo came in at sixth after logging 4.18m to beat two athletes from Palau, one from Pohnpei, and fellow CNMI bet Leani Acosta (3.87m). Tugade also topped the event with her 4.95m.

In the men’s 400m run, Schmidt qualified to the medal round after placing second on Heat 2. He recorded 53.90 seconds to rank No. 6 overall in the preliminary races and notch one of the eight slots to the finals. Chuuk’s Kiudone David topped the field with his 52.89 seconds on Heat 2, while compatriot Francis Rikat ruled Heat 1 and had the second fastest qualifying time with his 53.21 seconds. The CNMI’s Traven Quitugua (1:03.07) and Neldreyton Skerei (1:03.91) missed the cut.

In the discus throw, Ron Olopai finished fifth with his 29.23m heave, while Tony Ichiuo came in at ninth after registering 24.52m.

In the 100m run, Quitugua broke the 12-second mark with his 11.99, but he failed to advance to the medal race, while Gabriel Sappa also did not make the grade after checking in at 12.23 seconds. Nauru’s Jonah Harris won the gold with his 11.07 seconds, while Palau’s Rodman Teltull (11.10 seconds) and Chuuk’s Scott Fiti (11.22) took the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Meanwhile, Guam leads the medal tally in the Micro Games as of press time yesterday afternoon. It had a 7-3-2 gold-silver-bronze medal haul. Palau had five golds, two silver, and two bronze, while Pohnpei recorded 3-6-2 tally.