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Strong finish for athletics team
The CNMI’s Nick Gross competes in the javelin throw event in the 9th Micronesian Games last Thursday in Yap. (Hiroyuki Mori)
The CNMI Athletics Team went all out at the track last Thursday, winning seven medals—its best output in a single day.
On top of Zarinae Sapong’s gold medal in the 200m run, the squad also hauled three silver medals and three bronzes, bringing the group’s total to two golds, five silvers, and six bronzes.
Eleina Santos got a silver medal in the women’s 1,500m run after finishing the race in 5:26.49. Guam’s Genina Georgette Criss took the gold medal after recording 5:01.85, while her compatriot Madison Packbier earned the bronze with a time of 5:33.28.
In the women’s 100m hurdles, Rachael Abrams, who gave the CNMI its first gold medal after ruling the high jump last week, won a silver after logging 17.77 seconds and beating Palau’s Aubrey Ngirangesill (18.84 seconds) and the Marshall Islands’ Rosemaline Watley (19.02). Guam’s Richelle Tugade notched the gold after checking in at 16.72 seconds.
The CNMI’s third silver medal in the last day of the athletics competition came from Douglas Schmidt in the men’s triple jump. Schmidt registered 12.47m to prevail against six athletes (from Palau, Pohnpei, Guam, and Nauru). Kiribati’s Biira Brurennaira got the gold with his 12.83m, while Nauru’s Jonah Harris (12.09) completed the podium finish.
Meanwhile, the Commonwealth’s three bronze medals on Day 4 of the athletics contest were courtesy of Tyler Santos, Nick Gross, and the women’s 4x400m relay team.
The quartet of Sapong, Santos, Jerlyn Castillo, and Therize Millare timed in at 4:24.43 to place third behind Guam (4:19.18) and Pohnpei (4:20.90). Chuuk (4:33.88) and Palau (4:46.49) were the other entries in the 4x400m relay event.
In the men’s 1,500m run, Tinian’s Tyler Santos made it to the podium after clocking 4:39.48. Guam’s Joshua Bustre (4:28.03) ruled the event, while Palau’s Cristia Etpison Nicolescu (4:35.50) got the silver.
In the javelin throw, Nick Gross foiled a Palau sweep when he placed third after recording 46.09m and beating seven other athletes. Dougwin Franz and Iverson August took the gold and silver for Palau after posting 50.32m and 47.74m, respectively. Tony Ichiuo finished seventh with his 39.91m.
