Local bets perform well in XTERRA

Local triathletes took their skills to the extreme again, proving that they have what it takes to take on the XTERRA Saipan Championship course Saturday morning.

South Pacific Mini Games-bound Stephan Samoyloff put up another impressive showing, placing 12th overall after completing the rigorous event in 3:14.42, shaving more than two minutes off his time last year.

Samoyloff first tackled the 1.5-kilometer swim off the shore of Micro Beach in 27:39. After getting back to land, Samoyloff rushed to the transition area and began the 30-km bike challenge, which he completed in 1:39.34. He then capped his day by clocking in at 1:07.29 in the 12-km run.

Samoyloff’s time was also good for top honors in the men’s 35-39 age group, the second straight year the Commonwealth Health Center physician achieved the feat.

Also making waves was female sensation Dawn Hammermeister, who won the age group category for the third straight year when she crossed the finish line in 3:52.04. Her phenomenal charge, which was almost 12 minutes ahead of her time last year, featured a swim of 31:55, a bike of 1:59.35, and a run of 1:20.34.

Hammermeister was the top female finisher in the 35-39 age group in the previous two years.

For their part, Tyce Mister posted the second-best time among Saipan finishers and placed 30th overall and sixth in the 35-39 age group, coasting through the swim (28:14), bike (1:46.05), and run (1:29.06) for a time of 3:43.25, while Richard Sikkel placed 31st overall and seventh in the 25-29 age group after completing the race in 3:45.47.

Rob Carruth also put up a great effort, placing 33rd overall and second in the 40-44 age group after clocking in at 3:47.37, while Gary Padsing capped the top 40 and placed fifth overall in the 25-29 group with a time of 3:55.30.

Other local bets included veteran triathletes Dirk Sharer (4:04.08), Russ Quinn (4:04.31), Tom Austin (4:06.08), and Yoshio Gabaldon (4:11.52), who placed 44th, 45th, 46th, and 49th overall.

Also punching in notable performances were Christopher Fryling (4:14.15), John Douglas (4:14.51), Florian Braig (4:16.11), Joe Ngiraibuuch (4:23.42), and Michael Douglas (5:01.46).

Braig’s time was also recognized as the top male performance in the 50-54 age group.

Also completing the course and earning the respect of many were Douglas Stuart and Saipan Tribune’s very own Brad Ruszala, with Stuart racing past the finish line in 5:36.56 and Ruszala sweating for a time of 5:46.14.

The only other Saipan female competitor was Sue Knecht, who worked hard for a time of 5:46.36 and a second-place finish in the 35-39 age group.

The Championship also featured a team relay category, with the trio of Ellen Argo, Derek Horton, and Ryan Mouton joining forces to post the fastest time and win first place in the mixed category with a time of 3:09.14. Argo swam for 27.29 before handing things off to Horton, who biked for 1:37.48 before Mouton closed out with a run of 1.03.57.

Hideo Hatano, Norimasa Kondo, and Kengo Kuroda also competed and took home the men’s crown with a time of 3:27.00. Hatano did the swim leg and clocked in at 32.04, Kondo biked for 1:59.15, and Kuroda ran for 55.41.

The team of Rachel Bandelin, Richard Brostrom, and Cooper Schraudenbach placed second in the mixed (3:31.34), while Myana Welch, Mario Galang, and Neil Hohmann followed (3:31.36). Tim Armour, Melissa Coleman, and Bernadette Schumann also competed and completed the task in 3:59.06.

For their part, Bill Sakovich, Rory Mackay, and Faheem Ebrahim placed second in the men’s competition (3:46.48), while Cooper Graf, Cesar Fortaleza, and Glenn Jewell took third (3:50.08). Joshua Berger and Ketson Kabiriel finished in 4:37.41 for fourth place.