Michael Miller is youngest 3,000m winner

Michael Miller, 14, is the fastest 3,000m finisher ever, after he topped the race in the Northern Marianas Athletics Track and Field Open Challenge Road to Oceania Cup 2023 last Saturday at the Oleai Sport Complex.(LEIGH GASES)

Michael Miller outraced all participants of the 3,000m race on Day 2 of the Northern Marianas Athletics Track and Field Open Challenge Road to Oceania Cup 2023 last Saturday at the Oleai Sport Complex.

The incoming 14-year-old high school freshman came in first overall and in the men’s open division with a time of 10:28.03—the only runner that clocked in under 11 minutes.

Second went to Pony Tang at 11:16.49 and third was Sildrey Veloria at 12:10.36.

The women’s open division went to Tania Tan with a time of 11:29.28 and second went to Tiana Cabrera at 13:12.71.

The master’s women went to Michael’s mom, Akiko, with a time of 12:05.61 and the master’s men went to Jacoby Winfield with a time of 13:24.62.

Michael, who just started running last year, said after the event of being the youngest 3,000m winner, “It feels nice… I feel glad. I just kept on running and I won first place. I was leading the whole time but I thought the second place would catch up so I just kept running.” 

In the shorter 200m distance, Theo Rodgers won first overall in the men’s open with a time of 24.52; second went to Alexander Camacho at 25.89; third was Michael Rodgers at 29.62.

The women’s open was dominated by Casey Cruz at 29.29; second went to Maria Igitol at 30.15; third was Coleen Cing at 31.10. Orrin Pharmin was first place in the master’s men division at 26.89.

The 800m women’s open went to Kaithlyn Chavez at 2:37.79 and Cody Shimizu was first in the men’s open at 2:23.48.

In the discus throwing event, Cheraline Epity threw the farthest at 21.68m in the women’s open division and second went to Maria Igitol at 17.70m.

The master’s open division went to Lei Iguel at 21.62m and second went to Camille Pua at 16.79m.

For the men’s open division, Lyle Andrew dominated with a distance of 33.89m and second went to Angel San Nicolas, 20.90m.

Chris Zemple took first place in the master’s men division with a distance of 32.70; second went to Tony Ichiuo at 30.11m; and Daniel Joab took third at 28.60m.

The other throwing event that day in the shot put throw, Epity won first again at 8.59m and second was Igitol at 7.25m.

Igitol won first again in the master’s women division at 7.56m and second went to Pua at 5.68m.

Andrew was first in the men’s open with a throw of 11.03m and second was San Nicolas at 8.56m.

Results of Day 1 will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.