Sapong, Camacho dominate 100m of NMA Challenge

Participants of Day 1 of the Northern Marianas Athletics Track and Field Open Challenge Road to Oceania Cup 2023 pose for a photo last Friday at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

More than 30 athletes stormed the track and field of the Oleai Sports Complex for the Northern Marianas Athletics Track and Field Open Challenge Road to Oceania Cup 2023 last Friday and Saturday.

Zarinae Sapong and Alexander Camacho were the fleetest afoot in their respective divisions of the 100m sprint event. 

Sapong came in first in the women’s open with 12.70; second was Erin Frink at 13.10; and third was Casey Cruz at 13.51.

Men’s open first place was Alexander Camacho at 11.79; Theo Rodgers was second with 12:02; and third was Michael Rodgers at 13.35. Men’s master’s first place was Orrin Pharmin at 12.96.

In the 400m, the men’s open and overall went to Cody Shimizu at 56.54; third was Theo Rodgers at 58.35; third was Simon Tang at 1:04.46. Orrin Pharmin took the men’s masters division and overall with a time of 1:00.68.

Women’s open first place went to Kaithlyn Chavez at 1:05.39; Erin Frink came in a close second at 1:06.03; and third was Reylynn Sapong at 1:11.29.

The middle distance 1,500m was dominated by Pony Tang in the men’s open and overall with a time of 4:59.75; a close second went to Simon Tang at 5:01.32; and third was Sildrey Veloria at 5:10.23. 

Tania Tan took the women’s open division with her time of 5:02.45; Kaithlyn Chavez came 36 seconds after at 5:36.44; and Tiana Cabrera came in third at 5:49.19.

Kosuke Sato was on top of the men’s masters at 5:01.66.

In the field events, Alexander Camacho leaped the furthest at 5.63m in the long jump; second went to Theo Rodgers at 4.95m; and his brother Michael Rodgers was a close third at 4.76m.

Greg Borja took the men’s masters division at 3.90m.

The javelin throw event was dominated by Nick Gross in the men’s masters division with a distance of 45.85m; second was Tony Ichiuo at 37.47m; and third was Daniel Joab’s 35.96m throw.

Maria Igitol threw the furthest in the women’s open at 22.52m; Kina Rangamar was second at 21.80m; and third was Cheraline Epity at 19.82m. Lyle Andrew was the lone competitor in the men’s open and threw to a distance of 27.35m.

For Pharmin, he said he’s feeling really good heading into the Oceania Masters event at the end of June. “I’m feeling good, just of course a little bit more stuff to work on so that come game time, everything goes smoothly. Hopefully everything goes well. I’m excited because we’re hosting again.”

Robin Sapong, NMA general secretary, said after the events, “Overall happy with the turnout. Our coaches will continue with our athletes’ training and preparation towards the Oceania Cup.”
The Oceania Cup and Oceania Masters is slated for June 22-26. 

Twelve gold medalists from the 2022 Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games are coming back to Saipan. The Oceania Cup also provides an opportunity to qualify for the Budapest World Championships and Paris Olympics, with the same number of ranking points as the 2023 Pacific Games.