SIS shows way in cross-country

Runners head out to the course during the first qualifier in the 2019 All Schools Cross-Country Championships Series held late last month at the Saipan Country Club. (Lindsay Nash)

Saipan International School had a 1-2 finish in the U18 division of the first qualifying race in the 2019 All Schools Cross-Country Championships Series held late last month at the Saipan Country Club.

The Geckos’ Ken Song topped the official kickoff of the series held last Sept. 21 and ruled the boys U18 division after completing the 3-mile course in 13:39. Song’s schoolmate, Kuu Nishiumura, finished the three-lap race in 14:15 to place second in the division, while Agape Christian School’s Kobe Yang was ranked third with his 14:20.

In the girls U18 age group, SIS’ Anika Snyder came out on top, finishing the course at 16:43. Snyder was closely followed by her fellow Lady Gecko, Tiana Cabrera, who timed in at 16:45, while SIS completed the sweep in the division, as Sofia Osnach placed third after posting 18:02.

While SIS lorded it over in the U18 division, Agape took first place honors in both the boys and girls U14 age groups.

The Torchbearers’ Allen Luo completed the boys U14’s 2-mile course in 10 minutes to finish ahead of SIS’ Rigel Divey (10:13). Doyean Lee, also from SIS, came in at third after recording 11 minutes. In the girls U14, Agape’s Emma Pang submitted 11:35 for a close victory over SIS’ Dain Lee (11:36), while the former’s teammate Joy Wu (13:01) rounded out the Top 3.

In other results, Brilliant Star School’s Moshe Sikkel won the boys U12 race after finishing the one-mile course in 5:07. Saipan Community School’s David Ye was the runner-up finish with his 5:17, while Agape’s Danny Cheng (5:44) came in at third.

In the girls U12 age group, Zhixiang Lin gave Hopwood Middle School the victory after timing in at 5:30, while Agape’s Barbara Wang (5:40) and SIS’ Gyuhen Park (5:44) completed the Top 3.

In the U9 age group, SIS and SCS split the top honors with the former’s Finn Altizer the fastest runner in the boys division after clocking in at 5:42 and the latter’s Allie Brasuell winning the girls event at 6:12. Jose Sablan (6:05) and Patrick McDonald (6:07), who are both from SCS, made it to the Top 3 in the boys division, while San Vicente School’s Alyssa Mendiola (6:18) and SIS’ Suki Peng (6:23) did the same in the girls race.

For the boys U7 division, SIS’ Jude Rayphand completed the course in 6:04 to prevail against Agape’s Benjamin Cai (7:23) and Mt. Carmel School’s Franko Tudela (7:25).

In the girls U7, SIS had a 1-2 finish with Leilani Ruszala placing first with her 7:19 and Windsor Gross (7:27) at second. San Vicente’s Elleayah G. Cruz (7:30) rounded out the Top 3.

Meanwhile, the third qualifier will be held this Saturday, also at the Saipan Country Club. The second leg of the series took place at Banzai Cliff with the results taken from the times of the runners in the SIS-sponsored Gecko 5000.