Kagman, MHS renew rivalry in All Schools qualifier

Students compete in the 200m qualifying races in last Friday?s McDonald?s/PSS All Schools Athletics Championships at the Oleai Sports Complex. (ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

A Kagman High School-Marianas High School showdown is looming, as the series of qualifying tournaments for the 2014 McDonald’s/PSS All Schools Athletics Championship kicked off last week at the Oleai Sports Complex.
The Dolphins topped seven of the 13 events in the U18 age group of the qualifier last Friday, while Kagman ruled four. Saipan Southern High School and Marianas Baptists Academy split the two other events.

Friendly Joy Pena won the girls 60m, 100m, and 200 runs for MHS, while her schoolmate, Typhoon Tammy, reigned supreme in the 60m and 100m races. In the throwing events, the Dolphins’ K.J. Terry and Sharmaine Alarzar prevailed in the discus.

Kagman’s Jason Lampkin prevented Tammy from sweeping the sprints race when the former triumphed in the 200m event. In the long distance run, the 1,500m, the Ayuyus’ Shaira Sally finished first in the qualifier, while Kagman’s two other top finishes came from throwing events. Kagman swept the javelin with Franky Blas winning in the boys division and Dorothy Jebehn ahead in the girls category.

In another throwing event, the discus, MBA’s Primo Po placed first, while Southern’s Seiya Eda led six others in the 1,500m run.
The Top 8 best records (running events) in the qualifiers, which will run for one month, will earn slots to the All Schools meet that will be held from May 8 to 9. In the throwing and field events, students who will make it to the Top 12 will advance to the tournament proper.

Meanwhile, the junior high school division also had its qualifying events last week and the same rules are implemented, while the elementary division has different qualifying rules. Only the Top 2 in sprints events in each zones will qualify, while the two best times from the combined zones will gain entry to next month’s competition. In the middle distance, throwing, and jump events, the Top 3 from each zone will make the cut, along with the Top 3 from the combined zones.

There are three different zones in the elementary division. Zone A has Saipan Community School, Dandan, Gregorio T. Camacho, William S. Reyes, and Agape Christian School. Whispering Palms leads Zone B, which also includes Oleai, Kagman, San Antonio, and Brilliant Star. Zone C is composed of Koblerville, Saipan International School, San Vicente, Tanapag, and Garapan.