HJHS sweeps 13-and-under competition

Hopwood Junior High School took top honors in both the boys and girls 13-and-under team competition of the McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex.

The girls showcased their dominance and easily won the first place trophy after working for a whopping 144 points courtesy of seven gold medals, four silvers, six bronzes, and three top 6 finishes.

Taking second place was William S. Reyes Elementary School with 52 points on a gold medal, three silvers, and a bronze, while athletes from Rota were presented the third place trophy after compiling 32 points with two gold medals, a silver, and two top 6 finishes.

The HJHS boys, however, had their work cut out for them and edged Tinian by a hairline with 93 points after getting three gold medals, two silvers, a bronze, and 10 top 6 finishes. Tinian, meanwhile, put up a good charge and finished with 91 points courtesy of two gold medals, three silvers, four bronzes, and eight top 6 finishes. Saipan Community School placed third after earning three gold medals, two silvers, a bronze, and another top 6 finish for 56 points.

As reported earlier, the HJHS girls team got a golden lift from youth standout Jackie Wonenberg, who racked up four gold medals en route to capturing the Most Outstanding Female Athlete Award.

The 13-year-old wonder first sped to victory in the 100m dash, edging teammate Maria Con-Ui (14.84) in a time of 14.24 seconds. Yua Wang of WSR also broke the 15-second mark and took the bronze in 14.86.

Wonenberg was also put to the test in the 200m and again reigned supreme with a time of 29.58 seconds, while Yue (30.94) and Con-Ui (31.59) followed.

Competing in her final individual event of the day, Wonenberg solidified her dominance of her age group and distanced herself from the pack before clocking in at a sterling 1:08.17. Teammates Irene san Nicolas (1:13.92), Crysti Belanger (1:17.71), and Con Ui (1:20.32) rounded up the pack.

Wonenberg then joined forces with Belenger, Klynne Serrano, and Con-Ui to take gold in the 4X100m relay. HJHS also took the 4X400m relay.

Other gold medallists from the girls division were Irene San Nicolas of HJHS in the 800m (2:56.13), Lisa Riley of SCS in the 1,500m (6:34.86), Bernadette Laviste of HJHS in the discus (14.1 meters), Berlani Apatang of Rota in the shot put (7.05 meters) and javelin (19.38 meters), Odessa Sacro of HJHS in the (1.17 meters), and Wang in the long jump.

Spearheading the HJHS boys’ charge was Anthony Tenorio, striking gold in the 100m with a time of 13.08 seconds, while Jung (13.38) and Chacha Oceanview Junior High School’s Trevor Ogumoro (13.65) followed.

Tenorio also grabbed the 200m sprint in 27.83 seconds and again was followed by Ogumoro (28.06) and Jung (28.10).

Champ Untalan of SCS also had a phenomenal outing, taking three gold medals, beginning with a time of 1:02.67 in the 400m. Henry Atalig of Rota (1:06.24) and Heartim Williams of HJHS (1:06.44) were next.

Untalan also raced to gold in the 800m in 2:33.22, while Williams (2:45.15) and Donnie Dosalua of Tinian (2:47.40) followed.

The multi-sport athlete then closed his run with a 5:17.76 in the 1,500m. Dosalua (5:32.70) and Peter Cepeda of Tinian (5:35.08) rounded up the medallists in the event.

Ogumoro took gold in both the long jump and high jump, Angelo Cruz of Tinian ruled the discus and shot put, and Kevin Jardenero of HJHS topped the javelin.

HJHS also won the 4X400m relay while Tinian took the 4X100m relay.