Leugers, Wang, Furan top 5K in Track and Field Challenge

Kate Leugers is seen running the track in the 5K race of the Northern Marianas Athletics Track and Field Challenge held last Friday and Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Kate Leugers, Jireh Wang, and Matthew Furan topped the 5K event of their respective divisions in last weekend’s Northern Marianas Athletics Track and Field Challenge at the Oleai Sports Complex.

Leugers clocked in first with a time of 21:32 to beat Barbara Wang who finished in 27:24.

In the men’s open division, Jireh Wang came barreling in first against five other runners with a time of 21:43. Second is Pony Tang with a time of 22:16; third is Aaron Wang with a time of 23:39; fourth is James Lin with a time of 24:12; Juke Chen came in with a time of 25:04; and Edward Dela Cruz Jr. timed in at 25:04:13.

For the master’s division, Run Saipan member Matthew Furan clocked in at 23:41, with another Run Saipan member, Chong Nam Lee, a mere seconds behind him with a time of 23:55.

Leugers, who also topped the recent Turkey Trot up Mt. Tapochao, said that this event was her “bread and butter.” 

Participants of the 5K event pose for a photo during the Northern Marianas Athletics Track and Field Challenge held last Friday and Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

“The race is fun. As a post-collegiate athlete, I don’t get that many opportunities to return to the track and so it was fun to do an early morning run with folks on a track again… It was breezy. We had a little bit of rain so it cooled things down, but it was perfect conditions.” said the 33-year-old Commonwealth Health Center physician’s assistant about the race.

She said she joined the 5K and not any other events because she is “healing from a couple of injuries and I don’t think I should go really fast right now, but I was a long distance runner in college.”

Jireh Wang told Saipan Tribune that he felt pretty good coming in first. “Thank God he gave me strength to run the race well. It was a very close race and very challenging, but I think I won because there were not a lot of runners who joined the 5K.”

After the event, Furan said he is thankful, honored, and challenged. “Thankful as any success in life comes with preparation. Thankful to have the drive and health to do so. I’m honored to run and compete with some great runners on our beautiful island. Challenged to become better the next time. Life is meant for us to move forward and to keep pressing on.”

For two days, a number of events were held such as the open and masters division for the field events of shot put, long jump, discus throw, javelin throw, and the track events of 100m, 200m,  800m, 1,600m, and 5K.

“Overall, the meet gives an opportunity for coaches and athletes to see current performance levels as we approach the end of the year. We look forward to writing the next chapter of athletics in the year 2023 and beyond,” said NMA secretary general Robin Sapong.

Results of the other events will come out in the next editions of Saipan Tribune.