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NMA sets Christmas Island Relay for Dec. 28
In this file photo, Agape Christian School A runners celebrate as they near completion of last year’s Christmas Island Relay. (Saipan Tribune)
The Northern Marianas Athletics will hold the 38th Annual Christmas Island Relay on Dec. 28 as a culmination of its events for the 2019 season.
The race will start at 6am with the course starting at the Pacific Islands Club in San Antonio and ending at the Last Command Post in Marpi. Runners can join the open mixed, youth mixed, and solo categories.
In the open mixed division, teams must have five runners who will alternately run one mile each from start to finish. The open mixed should have a member who is 16 years old or younger, a female, or 40 years old and above. For the youth mixed divisions, members must be 16 under with least one female or one 12 under participant. Members must also alternate through the one-mile stages from San Antonio to Marpi. The registration fees for both divisions are $5 per runner or $25 per team. For solo runners, entry fee is $10.
NMA president Ray Tebuteb said the association hosts the Christmas Island Relay to end the year on a high note and get together in the spirit of the holidays. The event is known to attract hundreds of running enthusiasts and is also one of the many activities that NMA hosts in its continued efforts to promote national physical fitness, health and wellness.
Last year’s Agape A’s Peter Wang, Jonathan Xiong, William Chen, Leo Li, and David Cai ruled the open division after timing in at 1:26:30. TRAC 1’s Keith Longuski, Charlie Sendin, David Brook, Heather Taylor, and Josh David Joson came in second after submitting 1:28:21, while Rinty FC’s Rintaro Miyawaki, Joshua Abragan, Christopher Aninzo, Anthony Fruit, and Clayton Izuka rounded out the Top 3 with a time of 1:29:50.
In the solo division, Ronald Villafria was the top finisher with his 1:43.30, and was followed by Max Simian (1:50:24) and Edmond Bata (1:54:19).
