Athletics team’s consistency hailed

Beo Ngirchongor, left, runs after getting the baton from Orrin Pharmin during the men’s 4x100m relay race in the 8th Micronesian Game at the PNI Track and Field in Pohnpei last week. (Kurt Barnes)

The CNMI bets in the athletics competition in Pohnpei brought home 15 medals—seven golds and eight silvers—living up to its lofty billing as the consistent medal contributor to the Commonwealth in the last three editions of the Games. In the 2006 Micronesian Games, which Saipan hosted, the track and field group also hauled 15 medals (three golds, seven silvers, and five bronzes) and then in the Palau-hosted competition in 2010, the team collected 25 medals (13 golds, five silvers, and seven bronzes) to rule the tournament.

“For the past three editions of the Micronesian Games, our athletics team has been a force. We, in the NMA, are very proud of the athletes, coaches, their supportive parents, and volunteers,” Tebuteb said in a telephone interview with Saipan Tribune yesterday.

Tebuteb also credited the recent success of the team to the different businesses on the island

“We struggle to find funds to send our athletes in off-island tournaments, but we are able to survive because of the support of our business community and the people who help us in our fundraising efforts,” Tebuteb added.

The NMA head said returning to Saipan with medals and several other accomplishments are the athletes and officials’ way of saying thank you to their supporters.

“They did very well in Pohnpei. They brought home medals and broke a couple of records,” Tebuteb said.

Multi-sports athlete Rachel Abrams shattered both the CNMI and Micronesian records in the 200m run after clocking in a field-best 26.29 seconds in the finale. She eclipsed the 26.41 seconds fellow CNMI athlete Yvonne Bennett registered during the 2010 Micro Games in Palau. Abrams got two other golds in Pohnpei with her second coming from 100m hurdles (17.50 second) and the third in the high jump (1.38m). She also helped the CNMI win a silver medal in the 4x100m relay and finished second in the 100m run.

Other gold medalists for the CNMI were mother and daughter Dolores and Lia Rangamar and Beo Ngirchongor. Dolores topped the discus throw (26.42m), beating Lia (26.42). The younger Rangamar got her gold in the javelin throw (34.63m). Beo earned two gold medals, winning the 400m hurdles and 400m run. His 52.74 seconds in the 400m run broke the CNMI national mark (53 seconds) Tony Ichiou registered in the 1994 Micro Games in Guam.

For its silver medals, the CNMI drew two from Micro Games first timer Jesse James (half marathon and 1,500m) and one each from Friendly Joy Pena and Jaynard White (women’s and men’s high jump), and Orrin Pharmin (octathlon).

Majority of the team returned to Saipan last Monday night. Coach Elias Rangamar, his wife and daughter, and Abrams are still in Pohnpei. Lia and Abrams also played for the women’s basketball team, which was scheduled to duel Pohnpei in the battle for the bronze medal yesterday.