Wang, Tang lead junior, youth finishers of Triple J 5K

Jireh Wang is the male junior 14 to 19 age group winner of the Triple J Saipan 5K Family Fun Run/Walk’s Bubble Color Run last Saturday. Second is Ivan Lee, not pictured, and third is Simon Tang. (LEIGH GASES)

Out of more than 1,200 participants of the Triple J Saipan 5K Family Fun Run/Walk’s Bubble Color Run last Saturday, young students Jireh Wang and Eamon Tang were the fastest in their respective divisions.

Wang, an Agape Christian School student-athlete, outran participants in the male junior 14-19 age group from the Garapan Fishing Base to the Quartermaster Road and back with a time of 19:27. Right at his heels was Ivan Lee with a time of 20:43, then a few seconds behind was Simon Tang with 20:52.

For Wang, he said that this is his first Triple J Bubble Run and that it was a fun experience. He said he felt that he could’ve run a faster time but he enjoyed the race nonetheless.

In the male youth U13 division, Tang from Northern Marianas International School sprinted to the colorful finish line with a time of 28:00. Second to him was Reyiel at 31:43 and third was Joey Mostales’ time of 33:32.

Eamon Tang is the male youth U13 division winner of the Triple J Saipan 5K Family Fun Run/Walk’s Bubble Color Run last Saturday. Second is Reyiel, not pictured, and third is Joey Mostales.(LEIGH GASES)

Tang said that it was his first Bubble Color Run and that “it was a breeze with the cool weather,  so I thought I’d mix things up from the other thousands of runners by going barefoot and just having fun. It was my first time joining this race, but it definitely won’t be my last!”

The female youth U13 division was dominated by Lovell Spaeth with a time of 30:49, second was Allie Brasuell with 31:27, and third was Windsor Gross with a time of 41:32.

The female junior 14-19 age group was topped by Zining Wang with 28:01; second was Jian Chan’s 28:35; and third was Diana Dong’s 35:28.

In the male open 20-29 division, Andrew Ferrer came in first with a time of 23:18, followed by Simon Necesito’s 25:09 and John Oliver’s 26:19.

The female open division was won by Gaeun Yang with a time of 33:32; second was Celine Ko’s time of 43:01; then Cesiah Maclang’s time of 44:51.

In the male submaster 30-39 division, Kurt Songsong won with a time of 28:26; Robert Mojica was second with a time of 28:55; and third was John Bigalbal with a time of 31:02.

The female submaster division was won by Ding Fu Li with a time of 28:32; Roxanne Soriano came second with a time of 29:00; and Zaiyra Ganacias came in third with a time of 29:57.

The male master 40-49 age group was won by Joel Phair with a time of 21:17; Johnny McGlenn came in second at 23:43; and third was Dominador Andrada at 25:27.

Megan Dame won the female master age group with a time of 27:40; Sheila Mabutas came in second with 30:29; and third was Christina Kamalo with 31:01.

James Abuy came in first in the male senior 50-59 age group with a time of 24:47; Ricardo Delos Santos came second at 26:39; and Tim Role came in third with 26:51.

Jessica Ortizo sprinted to first in the female senior division with 26:55; Triple J’s Jane Jones came a close second with 27:11; and Meihua Jin came in third with 32:10.

The male grandmaster 60-and-up age group was dominated by barefoot runner Chong Nam Lee at 22:13 followed by fellow barefoot runner Chang Wan Jang at 25:41; Ponciano Corotan came in third with 30:15.

Finally, the female grandmaster winner was Marcia Schultz with a time of 33:38; Marie Babauta came in second with a time of 38:43; and Emma Santos came in third with a time of 45:10.

To top off the event, an Agape Christian School student, Yutian Luo won the raffle grand prize from United Airlines.

Participants—competitive or joining just for fun—were greeted with explosions of colored powder at designated stops along Beach Road then at the finish line, they were met with more explosions of color. They then made their way to “shower” at the bubble machine—with kids and adults alike having fun with the special feature of the event.

Sponsors of the event were Tan Siu Lin Foundation, United Airlines, Bank of Guam, Marianas Variety, Mobil Oil Marianas, Power 99, IT&E, Ahglow Products USA, Spa Ocean, Latte Built Gym & Fitness, AB Risk Solution, McDonald’s, Marpac, Micronesian Brokers Inc., Coca Cola, Docomo Pacific, Island Apparel, Gold’s Gym, Sound Hires, Yaong Corp., Ideal Sign, Saipan Computer Services, Matson, and Triple J.