Runners spread cheer to ‘North Pole’

Kieren’s Going Down emerged from a pack of 11 teams yesterday to take the tape in the 26th running of the Annual Christmas Island Relay hosted by the Northern Marianas Track and Field Federation.

Teammates Russ Quinn, Nate Hawley, Stephan Samoyloff, Akiko Tagiwaro, and Blaine Rodgers were the first to complete the 13.7-mile course that tasked the teams to utilize alternate runners each mile segment from the Pacific Islands Club in San Antonio to the Last Japanese Command Post in Marpi.

Finishing with a time of 1:25:40, KGD crossed the finish line 134 seconds before their rivals, Kieran Daly, Yosh Gabaldon, Chris Fryling, Mieko Motoyoshi, and Shawna Ping of the KWD (Kieran Went Down), reached the finish line.

Third place was closely contested between the Saipan Athletic Club and Ice Latte To Go, but Jack Kabriel, Robin Sapong, Lia Rangamar, Bo Wang, and Reylynn Sapong of the SAC (1:36:26) edged their competition by finishing 25 seconds ahead of the Yoshi Suzuki, Harumi Sugihashi, Butch Sublemente, Ernesto Apostol and company (1:36:51).

The other seven teams all put forth a strong effort, as Team Livestrong of the Marianas Baptist Academy (1:49:51), Chicken Curry (1:50:19), Sunshine/Sinclair Family (2:02:42), Nice Boots (2:03:14), Team Johnson (2:04:35), the Saipan Tribune Newsmakers (2:19:21), and the Pierced People (2:21:19) came away from the race with a positive experience.

At 6am, the first runners took off on their journey north from the parking lot in front of the PIC until they reached their teammates at the Chalan Piao Mobil gas station. From there, the second runners made their way to the entrance to the Grand Hotel, where they tagged their teammates, and sent them the mile to school bus stop in front of the Oleai Bar and Grill. Once there, the next runners in the string continued the northern migration until they reached the Japanese Tank across Quartermaster Road, and handed the jogging duties to the fifth runner in the rotation. After reaching the 13 Fishermen’s Monument, the runners who started the relay for their teams cinched up the laces and ran to the next mile to Winchell’s in Garapan. Runner No. 2 in the rotation handled the next leg of the race through American Memorial Park to the gate of the armory, where No. 3 huffed and puffed until reaching the old Rudolpho’s parking lot. The ninth mile was completed when the runners reached the Tanapag transition, where the fifth runners in the rotation made their second contribution to the running efforts by plodding their way to the Aqua Resort hotel.

The starters got their third wind at the transition, and ran to the entrance to the Marianas Resort and Spa, before the final mile was completed by the No. 2’s at the orange pylon adjacent to the Far East Broadcasting communication towers. From there on out it was a .7-mile sprint to the finish where teams were treated to an awards ceremony, raffle, and an assortment of refreshments and snacks by the NMITFF.