MHS, SIS rivalry formed

The running events in the girls U18 division of the 2019 Public School System/McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships turned out to be a showdown between Marianas High School and Saipan International School students, as they clashed for the Top 3 finishes in six individual races over the weekend at the Oleai Sports Complex.

In the 100m run, MHS’ Jaime Pangelinan placed first after posting 13.20 seconds. The Lady Dolphins had a 1-2 finish in the sprint with Leani Acosta recording 13.88 seconds, while SIS’ Mauryzon Tybaco was ranked third after registering 14.09 seconds.

Pangelinan then had a repeat in the 200m after clocking in at 28.51 seconds, while Tybaco moved up to second with her 29.11 seconds, and the former’s teammate, Jerlyn Castillo (29.32 seconds), rounded out the Top 3.

For the 400m run, Tybaco this time led the podium finishers and gave SIS its first gold medal, as her 1:11.57 bested seven other finalists. Tinian Junior Senior High School’s Renuka Shrestha came in at second with her 1:12.72, while MHS’ Ruschelle Valino was third after recording 1:12.97.

The Geckos went on to gain two more gold medals after Tybaco’s win in the 400m, as Anika Snyder ruled the 1,500m and 3,000m races. Snyder’s 6:02.42 in the 1,500m run was way faster than Valino’s 6:25.15, while also at distant third was Agape Christian School’s Vivian Wu (6:46.17). In the longest race in the competition, Snyder was way ahead, too, as she clocked in at 13:11.58—becoming the only runner in the field to finish the event in less than 14 minutes. The SIS runner defeated MHS’ Castillo (14:07.96) and Valino (14:45.28).

In the 800m run, the Top 3 also had MHS and SIS runners with Castillo in first place after posting 2:52.48 and Snyder (2:53.01) and Valino (3:04.62) in second and third, respectively.

Castillo got her second gold in the competition after topping the long jump event. She logged 4.48 meters to edge Pangelinan (4.46m) and Acosta (4.29m).

Matching Castillo’s pair of gold medals was Saipan Southern High School’s Cassandra Camacho, who triumphed in the discus throw and shot put. Camacho’s 8.69m in the shot put defeated the 7.51m of Agape’s Lani Lishoalo and 7.49m of MHS’ Desrei Camacho. In the discus throw, Cassandra submitted 24.54m to run away with the gold, while Kagman High School’s Rayanna Fitial (20.35m) and Maria Rasa (20.20m) got the silver and bronze, respectively.

In the javelin throw, it was Fitial’s turn to make it at the center of the podium after she tallied 24.02m. Pangelinan’s 22.30 handed her the silver, while Saipan Southern’s Thyvian They took the bronze after recording 21.99m.

In the high jump, MHS was awarded the gold and silver, thanks to Acosta (1.25m) and Sedrei Camacho (1.29), while Agape settled for the bronze after Ivy Yu logged 1.15m.