Altizer, Sendin lead winners in IT&E duathlon, trail run

Whit Altizer heads to the finish line of last Saturday’s IT&E Off-Road Duathlon and Trail Run at the Last Command Post. (Contributed Photo)

Newcomer Whit Altizer continued to impress the running community, while veteran Charlie Sendin showed the form that won him several local races, as the two emerged as top finishers in last Saturday’s IT&E Off-Road Duathlon and Trail Run.

Altizer, a new teacher at Saipan International School, completed the 12-kilometer trail run first after reaching the finish/start line at the Last Command Post in Marpi in 54:52. From the Last Command Post, Altizer and the other trail run participants headed to Cowtown, Banzai Trail, and Banzai Lookout before returning to the start/finish line. Runners in the 12K did the course twice.

Altizer finished more than two minutes ahead of runner-up and long-time CNMI runner Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel, who clocked in at 56:55. Joining Altizer and Kabiriel in the Top 3 was Carlo Canepa (59:55), while other finishers in the 12K race were Max Simian (1:10:15), Chang Won Jang (1:16:16), Tamio Nishikido (1:14:39), and Floro Derexes (1:30:03).

In the women’s 12K race, Sakiko Eda won her one-on-one showdown against Roxanne Soriano, as the former timed in at 1:08:15 against the latter’s 1:42:09.

In the 6K run, husband and wife Kosuke and Chiharu Sato bested their respective opponents.

Kosuke submitted 28:24 in the men’s division to prevail against Raymund Tolentino (31:05), Joey Tudela (35:29), Joe Villacrusis (36:18), James Lee (37:06), Rodney Camacho (37:10), Ponce Corotan (39:58), Jay Diyco (43:22), Rufino Aquino (51:12), and Alejandro Agulto (51:13). In the women’s field, Chiharu logged 35:43 to finish ahead of Marilou Carlos (41:28), Myla Vicencio (46:97), Samantha Polig (48:23), Rose Aldan (51:51), Vernice Ronda (51:53), and Dorothy Chyung (1:06:30).

Meanwhile, in the duathlon, Sendin won over 11 other participants in the individual division. Sendin completed the 5K run, 20K bike, and 2.5K race in 1:46:20 for a more than three-minute lead over fellow veteran Butch Sublemente (1:49:45). Mark Isip rounded out the Top 3 after recording 1:57:05, while other finishers were Norlo Jacosalem (1:57:23), Joel Buco (1:59:42), Buboy Aguilar (2:03:39), Jun Evangelista (2:24:53), Ben Babauta (2:34:36), Aris Oris (2:38:14), Red Hernandez (3:08:23), and Rommel Bartolo (3:15:01).

In the women’s division, Ayano Braxton clocked in at 1:58:29 to top Heather Taylor (2:00:37) and Emily Northrop (2:01:50), while the D’Weakest Link (1:40:14) ruled the men’s relay after beating Estepa/Salas (2:05:27), Caleb and Dai (2:58:46), and Ziheng and Hu (3:07:40).

The first leg of the duathlon race followed the same route as the run trail, while the bike course had participants going up to the Far East Broadcasting and passing through Binadu, Million Gallon Tank, and portion of As Matuis before going down to Calavera, Bird Island, Santa Klaus trail, Cowtown, Banzai Trail and back to the Last Command Post. For the last leg, participants, using the paved road, headed north of Marpi up to the ‘hairpin curve’ and then back to the start/finish line.

Triathlon Association of the CNMI organized the race, which had IT&E as major sponsor and was supported by Foremost, Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, Kanoa Resort, and Pacific Islands Club Saipan.