Familiar names return to track for time trials

The rain was not an issue this past Saturday, as the fastest men and women in the CNMI gathered at the Oleai Sports Complex to compete in the Northern Mariana Islands Track and Field Federation’s time trials for the 2004 Oceania Open and 18-and-under Championships that will be held this December in Australia.

Many familiar names laced up their shoes at the crack of dawn, as the events got underway with the long distance races early in the morning, and quickly moved to the field events, with the long jump, the shot put, and the discus.

The best shot putter of the day was Vanessa Mobel, who led the overall competition with an 8.81-meter toss. A close second was Dolores Rangamar, who managed a distance of 8.30m to round out the open category, while 15-year-old Ann Marie Satur topped the 18-and-under and took third overall with her 6.62m effort. Leiseschangmwar “Lei” Rangamar (14 years old) took fourth overall with 6.38m.

The foursome returned to compete in the discus, but this time it was Dolores Rangamar who took first place with her 27.50m throw, while Mobel managed 25.81m for second place, Lei Rangamar 22.81 bagged third, and Satur 19.38 took fourth.

And then it was time for the Jovannie Sablan, Reylynn Sapong, and Lia’ Mwar Rangamar show. The three managed to take the top positions in all of their events, with the exception of Sapong, who just missed out on third in the long jump by .01m.

The 13-year-old Sablan took first place in the long jump (3.45), 60m (8.87), and the 100m (15.05), before returning to take second in the 800m (3:00.80). Ten-year-old Rangamar took second in the long jump (2.85), third in the 60m (10.16), second in the 100m (16.65), and second in the 200m (36.24).

While 10-year-old Sapong took fourth in the long jump with a 2.39m behind 9-year-old Shelvanna Sablan (2.40m), she finished second in the 60m (10.14) and the100m (16.51), first in the 200m (35.51) and the 400m (1:17.73), before returning to the 800m for third (3:01.64).

Sapong was the iron woman of the day, participating in six events, and that may have tired her in the long distance categories, as Ms. Endurance, 15-year-old Bo Wang swept the 800m and 1500m with times of 2:55.91 and 6:16.75, respectively. 13-year-old Chang Wang managed fourth in the 800m (3:21.02), and second in the 1500m (7:38.74).

There weren’t any competitors in the throwing events for the men, but 14-year-old Craig Borja ruled the long jump with a distance of 4.50m, ahead of second place 13-year-old Brandon Cruz (3.96), and 12 year-old Donny Dosalua (3.71).

The swiftest man in the open division was 39-year-old Tony Ichiuo, who was able to streak across the line in first place in all of his races.

With a time of 7.43, Ichiou smoked the competition in the 60m, before repeating his feat in the 100m (12.28), and 200m (25.00). Right behind the flash in every race was 28-year-old Ketson Kabiriel and 26-year-old Gabriel White. Kabiriel took second in the 60m (7.90), was disqualified in the100m (12.49 DQ), and regained second in the 200m (25.42) before winning the 800m with a time of 2:16.98. White was right there with the duo, posting a 7.94 in the 60m, 13.12 in the 100m, 26.82 in the 200m, and a 2:39.52 in the 800m.

For the 18-and-under category, it was 15-year-old Darryl Rogoliat who put the “D” in dominating. Rogoliat swept the field in sprints section, taking first in the 60m (7.36), the 100m (11.96), and the 200m (24.98).

15-year-old Ivan De Vero was a close second in the 60m (8.23), and the 100m (12.56), while Jomar Duenas took second in the 200m (33.82).

A lad of many races, 16-year-old Ryan Cruz managed third in the 60m (8.42), and the 100m (13.51), before 11-year-old Joseph Jung finished third in the 200m (34.19).

The basketball player/swimmer/track star Jeremy Winkfield took the tape in the 400m with a sub-minute time of 57.35, while Marcan Aldan took second (1:00.9), and Cruz returned for third (1:07.68).

In the 800m, Craig Borja was plenty rested from the long jump to finish first with a time of 2:52.51, 15-year-old Anthony Randall of Tinian High School finished second (2:56.47), ahead of 12-year-old JR Concepcion (3:03.01).

Aldan returned to take first in the 1500m with a time of 4:57.56,while Dosalua also made his way back to finish second with 6:14.57.