Lady Dolphins, Mantas continue va’a dominance

Marianas High School Lady Dolphins outrigger team is seen in a file photo during their 500m race last Feb. 11 at the Kilili Beach in Susupe. They lead the girls division with 39 points heading into the championships this Saturday, March 4. (LEIGH GASES)

The Marianas High School Lady Dolphins and the Saipan Southern High School Manta Rays outrigger team continue to control the waters off Kilili Beach in Susupe after topping their respective divisions of the co-ed high school Public School System Interscholastic Outrigger Canoe Race 2022-2023 last Saturday.

The Lady Dolphins lead the girls division as they were one with their paddle and the water—besting the finals of both the 500m and the 1,000m races for 15 points due to a second place finish in the 500m prelims, while in the boys division, the Mantas are hinting at a title defense in the upcoming championships next Saturday as they dominated both events and garnered a perfect 20 points.

The Saipan Southern High School Manta Rays are seen in a file photo during their 500m race last Feb. 11 at the Kilili Beach in Susupe. They lead the boys division with a perfect 45 points heading into the championships this Saturday, March 4.(LEIGH GASES)

The Lady Dolphins quickly made like a Dolphin as they navigated their second home—the open waters, with a time of 3:06.400 in the 500m sprint finals garnering the full 5 points. SSHS came a close second at 3:09.460, followed by Kagman High School’s 3:31.590.

In the longer 1,000m sprint finals, the six-some of the Lady Dolphins’ outrigger team rushed through the finish flag first place once again with a time of 6:41.140. The Mantas’ second place time was 6:53.110, while the Ayuyus time was 7:43.050.

The Lady Dolphins are on top of the girls division leaderboard with 39 points; the Lady Mantas are second with 33 points; and the Lady Ayuyus are third with 9.

In the boys division races, the Mantas swept all the prelims and finals for both 500m and 1,000m races with a time way ahead of the other two teams.

The Mantas cruised into first place in the 500m race with a time of 2:45.790, followed by the Dolphins’ 2:48.390, and the Ayuyus time of 2:58.740.

The Mantas muscled their way through the 1,000m finals as well, being the only team to come in under 6 minutes at 5:54.570. The Dolphins came in second at 6:11.860 and the Ayuyus came in third at 6:19.960.

With a perfect 45 points, the Mantas are undefeated and lead the boys division. The Dolphins are second with 25 points and third are the Ayuyus with 11.

In the mixed races, both Mantas’ teams were the team to beat as the combined forces of the speedy boys and the teamwork with the girls brought them first place in both the 500m and the 1,000m events.

Paddling into first place of the 500m event were the Mantas at 2:57.010; second place were the Ayuyus with a time of 3:15.320; and last were the Dolphins with a time of 3:18.130.

In the 1,000m race, the Mantas held onto first place with a time of 6:12.630; the Ayuyus clocked in second at 6:38.780; and the Dolphins came in last with a time of 6:42.090.

The mixed division is led by the Mantas’ 40 points, followed by the Ayuyus’ 18 points, and last is the Dolphins’ 14.

The championships have been moved up to this Saturday, March 4, as many paddlers are competing in the annual Chamorro & Carolinian Language Heritage Studies (CCLHS) Competition in Guam from March 13 to 14.

Last season’s champions of the women and co-ed divisions were the Ayuyus, while the Manta Rays won the perpetual championship trophy in the boys division.