Labausa, Sumagaysay dominate; Guam wins Marianas Cup

Antonette Labausa, right, won a gold medal in the 81-kg weight class, while Riella Ichiuo took the silver in the Marianas Cup weightlifting competition last March 25 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

The CNMI’s Antonette Labausa and Guam’s Jacinta Sumagaysay dominated their respective weight classes in the women’s division, while the Guam team collectively won the Marianas Cup weightlifting competition held at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium last March 25.

Guam collected 14 gold medals, while the CNMI had 10.

Labausa lifted heavier than teammate Riella Ichiou in the 81-kg weight class for gold, with a new personal best of 100 kg in the clean & jerk. Her best snatch was 75 kg for a total weight of 175 kg. 

For silver, Ichiou won with a snatch of 70 kg and clean & jerk of 85 kg for a total weight of 155 kg.

Sumagaysay won gold in the 71-kg weight class with a snatch of 81 kg and clean & jerk of 105 kg for a total weight of 186 kg. Second went to the CNMI’s Anniegail Manuel with best snatch of 60 kg and best clean & jerk of 80 kg for a total weight lifted of 145 kg.

Guam’s Erika Camacho won gold in the 49 kg weight class with a best snatch of 50 kg and clean & jerk of 75 kg for a total weight of 125 kg; teammate Chloe Santos also won gold in the 55-kg weight class with a snatch of 64 kg and clean & jerk of 74 kg for a total weight of 138 kg.

In the 64-kg weight class, Guam’s Nissi Lujan earned Guam her first gold with a snatch of 48 kg and clean & jerk of 65 kg for a total weight of 113 kg.

In the 59-kg weight class, the CNMI’s Cheyanne Manuel won gold with a best snatch of 63 kg and clean & jerk of 78 kg for a total weight of 141 kg. Teammate Pipit Ball earned silver with a snatch of 51 kg and clean & jerk of 70 kg for a total weight of 121 kg; and Guam’s Marina Babauta took bronze with a snatch of 53 kg and clean & jerk of 68 kg to share a total weight of 121 kg.

In the youth/junior division—the youngest competitor—Guam’s 8-year-old Mariah Lujan won gold in the 40-kg weight class with a best snatch of 14 kg and clean & jerk of 18 kg for a total weight of 32 kg.

Guam’s Marina Babauta won Guam another gold in the 59-kg weight class with a snatch of 53 kg and clean & jerk of 68 kg for a total weight of 121 kg, while Nissi Lujan won her second gold medal for Guam in the 64-kg weight class with a snatch of 48 kg and clean & jerk of 65 kg for a total weight of 113 kg.

Anniegail Manuel won gold in the 71-kg weight class with a snatch of 65 kg and clean & jerk of 80 kg for a total weight of 145 kg. 

Labausa, who wasn’t supposed to compete this time around, said that after much thought, she changed her mind because it’s the first time Guam is competing against the CNMI and wanted to be a part of it.

She hit a new clean & jerk PB by 2 kg and said that it felt great. “It was not my best day but I was able to hit the goal that my coach set out for me, so I am happy about that,” she said.

As for the postponement of the Micronesian Games, she said that she was relieved and now is solely preparing for the Pacific Games in November.

Sumagaysay, for her part, said that she set a new PB and that it was a great experience coming out to compete in the CNMI.

John Davis, president of the CNMI Weightlifting Federation, said in an email after the competition, “This was the first but hopefully not the last collegial test for the two teams. Though they were a smaller visiting team, they were also more experienced. Nevertheless, the CNMI weightlifters gave them a run for the money. CNMI weightlifters are looking forward to turning the tables next year and bringing the Cup back to the CNMI. The focus of the CNMI team is now shifted to the Solomon Pacific Games.”