Dash & Splash postponed to next year

Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz Jr. poses with his younger sister during the Oct. 2, 2021 PSS/NMA Cross Country Qualifier at the old Saipan Country Club golf course behind Saipan Vegas. (MARK RABAGO)

There was nary a dash or any semblance of splash last Saturday at the East Bay of Lao Lao Bay as Run Saipan ultimately postponed its 5K Dash & Splash due to the spread of COVID-19 cases in the community.

Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz Jr. apologized to runners itching to try the new course for the postponement as the rise in coronavirus cases was just too much to ignore for the fledgling running group.

“Everyone else on the Run Saipan board voted to shelve it until next year due to the rise in COVID-19 cases,” he told Saipan Tribune.

In lieu of the aborted 5K Dash & Splash, Run Saipan will be returning to a virtual run for the November edition of its underground series.

“The November 5K will be this weekend. It will be virtual again. However, there is a challenge for the people on island. Runners will have the chance to set a course record for the Beach Road Pathway starting at the 0.25 marker symbol at Oleai Bar and Grill,” said Dela Cruz.

Moreover, Run Saipan’s December 5K will most likely mark a return to in-person running. “If the board feels it’s okay to have in-person again it will be on the track and field,” said the Run Saipan president alluding to the Oleai Sports Complex track and field as the venue.

“It will be the first Saturday of December so runners can have time to test for Northern Marianas Athletics’ annual Christmas Island Relay,” added Dela Cruz.

To register for next weekend’s Run Saipan October Underground 5K 21.10, copy and paste the link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSee7sAfdKzhTQ9auAQbB27qsXN1SaCbYiwI6EVx5GCKqIU8lQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR0WaejwCy3sTuaoWE-v6c1dHEshkthly6jUEvcG6QPCCM2f-SSW0prGGT4.

The brainchild of Oceania Athletics Association president Robin Sapong, the 5K Dash & Splash was supposed to be held by NMA in 2018, but Super Typhoon Yutu postponed it. Dela Cruz earlier said they added the water element in the run in honor of Athletics Run Jump And Throw.

The revived 5K Dash & Splash, this time now organized by Run Saipan, was originally set for Oct. 30 but was postponed for the first time after three Public School System students tested positive for COVID-19.

In lieu of the postponed Run Saipan Dash & Splash, Run Saipan held a Virtual 5K Underground Series 21.9 held over the same weekend and it was topped by Pony Tang and Tania Tan.

Tang, a 15-year-old sophomore at Marianas High School, ran the course at the MHS Cross Country course in 22:24 to win the men’s division, while Tan, a junior at Fordham University, topped the women’s division after running the cross country meet at Cedarville, Ohio in 20:41.