Kuroda, Muldoon fleetest afoot in 4-miler

A total of 60 runners took part in Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation’s Michelob Ultra 4-Mile Run For Taste and Pokka 4-Mile Sunset Run last Saturday along the Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio Beach Road Pathway. (Contributed photo)

Shuji Kuroda and Lily Muldoon topped the Michelob Ultra 4-Mile Run For Taste, while Dev Bachani and Tiana Cabrera left their competitors in the dust in the Pokka 4-Mile Sunset Run last Saturday along the Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio Beach Road Pathway.

Kuroda shredded the course from Garapan Fishing Base to the Army Recruitment Office/Laderra Building in a time of 24:05 to pace the male 21-and-over runners. Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz Jr. came in second at 27:37, while Michael Deneven completed the Top 3 after crossing the finish line in 27:53.

The 31-year-old Food & Beverage assistant manager at Grandvrio Saipan extended his thanks to race organizer, Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation, for holding the event.

Kuroda

“It was a good distance and I’m happy [to have won],” said Kuroda, who said he only started running competitively when he decided to pick up triathlon as a sport back in 2018.

Muldoon, a physician at the Commonwealth Health Center, dominated the women’s 21-and-over division after completing the 4-mile race in 27:44. She was followed by Run Saipan vice president Jenny Kong (33:03) and Lydia Tan (37:03).

“Great race! Very fun to have the high-level organization of the race and good energy. Very happy about the prizes!” said Muldoon.

Bachani, for his part, was the first to reach the fishing base in the men’s 21-and-under category after the 15-year-old Marianas High School student timed in at 27:04. Cody Shimizu (28:10) and Ruben Guerrero (29:08) finished second and third.

“It didn’t feel as long as I thought but before the run I was scared that I would start out to fast and would be too tired at the end. But even though I started out fast I think I still kept my pace at the end,” he said.

Muldoon

Cabrera ruled the women’s 21-and-under age group after submitting a time of 30:23. She was followed by Maya Shimizu’s 57:17.

“I thought the race was great I was really surprised with my time. I was following a soccer guy for the first 2 miles and I was pacing myself then on the last 2 miles. I picked up my pace overall I felt really great about the race and time!” she said.

Aside from Michelob Ultra and Pokka sponsoring the 4-mile fundraiser, the Michelob Ultra 4-Mile Run For Taste and Pokka 4-Mile Sunset Run were also supported by the Marianas Visitors Authority, Northern Marianas Athletics, and Latte Built Gym. A total of 60 runners and a couple of dogs tackled the 4-mile race.

The event was held by NMIBF to help the federation send the CNMI men’s and women’s teams to the 2022 Micronesian Games that the Marshall Islands will be hosting. The NMIBF recently selected 20 players each in the men’s and women’s divisions that will move to Stage 2 of the Micro Games preparations and last weekend’s run will just be one of the several fundraising events that the national squad hopefuls will be involved with.