TRAC looks for better, brighter ’20

Triathlon Association of the CNMI secretary general Ricky Castro, right, and volunteer timer Romy Ampit wait for the last swimmer to finish during last Sunday’s Aquathlon and 10K Pathway Run in the waters off Kilili Beach. (Mark Rabago)

The Triathlon Association of the CNMI is looking at hosting more events in 2020 as it continues to pick up the pieces from the difficulties and challenges brought by Super Typhoon Yutu.

While Yutu happened in October 2018, recovery efforts from the strongest typhoon to hit the U.S. that year carried on to 2019 and as a result sports events on island somewhat took a backseat.

TRAC secretary general Ricky Castro said the federation currently is planning to host seven events this year, the biggest of which is the 31st Tagaman Triathlon on March 21.

Named after the ancient Chamorro chief Taga, the 2-kilometer swim, 60-km bike, and 15-km run Tagaman is the longest running sporting event in western Pacific.

TRAC only last Sunday held the Aquathlon & 10KM Pathway Run and will have the Sprint Triathlon on Feb. 29. The two events and the 2019 Saipan Duathlon held last December are actually part of what TRAC calls its Tagaman Series, which are three events leading to the Tagaman Triathlon.

The four other events on TRAC’s 2020 calendar are the Tagakids and Sprint Triathlon on July, the Off-Road Duathlon & Trail Run on Aug. 30, the Bike & Run for Cure on Sept. 26, and the aforementioned 2020 Saipan Duathlon set for Dec. 19, 2020.

Aside from its scheduled events for 2020, TRAC is also looking forward to hosting the triathlon event of the 2021 Pacific Mini Games that will be held on Saipan for the very time.

“The CNMI is hosting the Pacific Mini Games next year and triathlon is one of the events included in the program. We are preparing as a host federation and as competitor at the same time,” said Castro.

TRAC is collaborating with Oceania Triathlon Union early on and in March, an International Triathlon Union representative is coming over to assist in planning and making the course design of the triathlon event in the Pacific Mini Games.

Castro said also to be discussed with ITU is the technical assistance they could provide in training CNMI triathletes who would be selected to compete in the 2021 Pacific Mini Games.

And speaking of the ITU, the TRAC general secretary said the organization was finally accepted as an associate member last year.

“After three years of lobbying, the CNMI’s case was discussed and voted during International Triathlon Union Congress in Lausanne, Switzerland last September 2019. We were accepted as an associate member under the Oceania Triathlon Union,” he said.

ITU is the international governing body for the multi-sport disciplines of triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon, and other nonstandard variations. The ITU hosts the top level international race series the ITU World Triathlon Series and the ITU Triathlon World Cup.

Along with becoming an associate member of the Oceania Triathlon Union and the inclusion of triathlon in the 2021 Pacific Mini Games on Saipan, Castro also lists organizing the Tagaman Triathlon last year as one of their major accomplishments in 2019.

“TRAC managed to continue the torch lit by hosting the 30th Tagaman Triathlon in March with the presence of Ruben Chappins and Hideya Miyazuka, the men’s champion and runner-up of the inaugural Tagaman held 29 years ago,” he said.

Along with Castro, TRAC’s leadership is made up of president Florance Antonio, vice president Manny Sitchon, and treasurer Jojo Valencia.

For more information on TRAC and its activities, point your browsers to triathloncnmi.org.