Athletics qualifying trials pushed back a day

The Northern Mariana Islands Track and Field Federation disclosed yesterday that the start of the qualifying time trials for the upcoming All Schools Track and Field Championships has been pushed back by a day.

According to NMITFF board member Elias Rangamar, only one school confirmed participating in today’s original start, forcing officials to push back the kick off.

The NMITFF also released a schedule for participating schools for the trials. Registration for each date is set for 3pm at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field facility.

Whispering Palms School, Saipan Community School, and Koblerville and San Vicente elementary schools will be first to take to the track, seeing action in the 100m, 200m, long jump, 1,500m, and 4X100m relay tomorrow beginning at 4pm.

Grace Christian Academy, Tanapag, Garapan, William S. Reyes, and Dandan elementary schools will take the track for the same events on Thursday.

Athletes in the high school and junior high school divisions will begin their push this Friday, seeing action in the 100m, 200m, 1,500m, discus, shot put, long jump, and 4X100m relay. Seven junior high schools are scheduled to make their debut including Hopwood and Chacha Oceanview junior high schools, GCA, Mt. Carmel School, Calvary Christian Academy, Saipan International School, and Saipan Community School.

High school teams invited for the day include Northern Marianas Academy, GCA, MCS, and Marianas, Saipan Southern, and Kagman high schools.

The time trials resume on April 11-13 with elementary schools testing their skills in the 400m, 800m, 4X400m relay, and softball throw.

April 11 is reserved for WPS, Tanapag, San Vicente, and MCS, while Koblerville, SCS, Garapan, and WSR will have their turn on April 12. GCA, Dandan, and Calvary Christian Academy will close out the young division on April 13.

April 14 will feature junior high school athletes competing in the 400m, 800m, javelin, high jump, and 4X400m relay. Schools include HJHS, GCA, MCS, Calvary Christian Academy, SIS, SCS, and Chacha.

MHS, SSHS, KHS, GCA, MCS, and NMA will return on April 15 for the same events.

The trials will be ongoing for a month to determine who will take up the six available slots in each event. Two slots have been reserved for Tinian and Rota.

Each athlete is allowed to compete in only four events. Athletes in the nine-and-under and 11-and-under age groups who participate in either the 800m or 1,500m events will be allowed to take part in two events only.

The top three finishers in each event in the May 7 Championships will each receive a medal, while the school with the most points in each age category will go home with the championship trophy.

Points will be based on the individual placing of a school representative in each event, with first place receiving 10 points. Second place receives eight points, third get six points, fourth get four points, and fifth gets two points, and sixth place two points.

Meanwhile, the NMITFF is also in need of volunteers for the time trials and the Championships on May 7. During a meeting yesterday, the board created 13 committees to oversee various tasks.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Elias Rangamar at 664-2502 or via email at eli_rang@yahoo.com, NMITFF president Kurt Barnes at 234-5498 ext. 1008 or email at kurtb@nmcnet.edu, or federation treasurer Robin Sapong at sapong@vzpacifica.net.