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Saipan Aquathlon & 10K Run set for Feb. 27
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Posted on Feb 08 2021
In this 2019 file photo, Jinju Thompson waves to the camera as she heads to the swim-run transition area at Kilili Beach during the 4th IT&E Saipan Aquathlon and 10K Pathway Run. (Saipan Tribune)
The Triathlon Association of the CNMI will have its first event for the 2021 season on Feb. 27 with the staging of the 6th Saipan Aquathlon & 10K Run.
Both races will start and end at Kilili Beach Park. The aquathlon event will cover a distance of 5-kilometer run, 1K swim, and 2.5K run. The running course for the aquathlon race will be the pathway heading north to Beach Road with the turnaround point across Monika’s Gallery (for 5K) and Char’s Store (for 2.5K). For the 10K race, the turnaround point is the traffic light across Bank of Guam in Garapan.
So far 25 have signed up for the event with 13 of them joining the aquathlon race. Deadline for registration is on Feb. 25 and entries on race day will not be accepted. Entry fee is $20 (per person) and registration cane be made via https://www.webscorer.com/registerlist?raceid=231034 with interested participants can join either the solo or team division in the aquathlon.
In this 2020 file photo, Kosuke Sato, third left, poses with third placer Ken Song, second left, after winning the 10-kilometer portion of the 5th Aquathlon & 10K Run. Also in the photo are Manny Sitchon, left, and Ronald Villafria, right, of the Triathlon Association of the CNMI, which organized the event. (Saipan Tribune)
The 6th Saipan Aquathlon & 10K Run will be part of the series of events that TRAC will be hosting to prepare for next year’s Pacific Mini Games. These races will be used to train officials, look for athletes that will represent the CNMI to the quadrennial event, and raise funds for the 2022 competition.
Last year, nearly 60 joined the Saipan Aquathlon & 10K Run with former Saipan Swim Club coach Sarah Vander Wal leading the finishers list in the aquathlon after timing in at 43:49 with split times of 18:29 (1K swim) and 26:20 (two 2.5K runs).
Joining Vander Wal in the Top 3 in the women’s division were Savita Sikkel and Claire Devey, while Shuji Kuroda, Taiyo Akimaru, and Jacoby Winkfield made it to the podium in the men’s division. In the relay, the SIS Geckos’ Tiana Cabrera, Jinju Thompson, and Kuu Nishimura completed the race.
In the 10K race, Kosuke Sato posted the fastest time at 41:41, while Whitney Altizer and Ken Song came in second and third with times of 42:03 and 43:04, respectively. Maki Narita was the top finisher in the women’s division with her 45:20 and was followed by Sarka Glanchova (50:15) and Anika Snyder (50:23).
