Sato, Miller top Run for the Red 5K

Participants of the inaugural American Red Cross-NMI Chapter Run for the Red 5K fundraiser pose for a group photo after the event last Saturday at the airport field.(MARK RABAGO)

Kosuke Sato and Akiko Miller ran for a good cause and won the race too, as Sato came in first place in the men’s open division and Miller came in first in the women’s open of the inaugural American Red Cross-NMI Chapter Run for the Red 5K fundraiser last Saturday at the airport field.

Sato came in first with a sub 20-minute 5K—19:46, followed closely by Sildrey Veloria’s 19:54 time, then Chong Nam Lee’s 22:25. 

Sato said it’s been a while since he’s joined a 5K race but that he decided to come out and support the Red Cross.  

Miller crossed the finish line with a time of 21:19, second was Tiana Cabrera in 23:26, and third was Terra Allen in 24:25. Miller had also taken a break from competing as she is recovering from a knee injury, but decided to support the Red Cross as well. She added that the course was easy as it was level almost throughout the whole race.

The race was also open to children and for moms with strollers and their babies. As such, the winner of the male 12U division was Derence Benjamin with a time of 27:39; second place was Ray Patrick McDonald with a time of 31:35; and third place was Rafael Ulrich Servito with a time of 37:59.

In the stroller division, Jaymie Kanda and her daughter crossed the finish line together with a time of 44:01, followed by Jaymie’s sister, Erin, with a time of 44:25. Third place was a tie between Daisy Babauta and her child and Becky Mettao and her child at 58:06.

Friendly sibling rivalry was Jaymie’s motivation as she said all she was thinking about was crossing the finish line first than her sister. She said the grass portion of the course was the hardest to push her 40-lb daughter through, but that it was nice coming out to support the American Red Cross-NMI Chapter.

The American Red Cross-NMI Chapter partnered with Run Saipan for their inaugural 5K run and walk event with over 150 registrants and close to that number of runners on race day. 

After the race, American Red Cross-NMI Chapter executive director John Hirsh said that the event was successful and that he was excited to have collaborated with the Run Saipan team, Dr. Ron Snyder, Robin Sapong, and Edward Dela Cruz Jr.

“Their whole team really came out in force and helped us set up. Also, a deep appreciation to the Commonwealth Ports Authority for helping us with the traffic control this morning and everyone who came out—all the runners, all the volunteers, all our collaborators Marianas Health Services and the Commonwealth Health Center.” He also thanked Docomo Pacific, Department of Public Safety, and CPA’s Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting.

“We’re really just thrilled to really be working with Run Saipan. Anything that we can do to get people moving and get their hearts going, getting them more physically fit is a great thing for the Red Cross and great for our Commonwealth,” said Hirsh.

Snyder said the partnership with the Red Cross was great and hoped that it will not be the last. “It’s been great working with them, the course was beautiful, the support that they brought in with the trailers, with Docomo’s cheering squad, it was amazing and it makes all the events better when we have that support.”

There was also a raffle done with E-Land Group’s donation prizes of pool passes and brunch vouchers from Kensington, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, and Coral Ocean Point.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds, and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.

The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/nmi.