NMA releases schedule of 2005 events

Northern Marianas Athletics released on Wednesday its calendar of events for 2006, which indicates another busy year for the former Northern Mariana Islands Track and Field Federation.

As reported earlier, NMA and the Marianas Visitors Authority are again joining forces in hosting the first Saipan Marathon, which will coincide with a half-marathon and 10K fun run on Jan. 21.

NMA will then host a Valentines Day Fun Run on Feb. 14, and will conduct a basic athletics course for teachers from March 10-12.

Roadrunners will have another shot at claiming glory in the St. Patrick’s Day Fun Run set for March 17, while athletes determined to qualify for the Micronesian Games are invited to compete in the first Micro Games Qualifier Meet, which will be held on March 18 at the Oleai Sports Complex.

NMA will also begin prepping for the McDonald’s All- Schools Championships with a qualifier meets from March 27 to 30. The qualifiers will also be held on April 2-5, April 10-13, and April 17-20, while the second Micro Games qualifier will be on April 22. The CNMI National Championships closes the events for the month on April 29.

Students from around the CNMI will then compete in the McDonald’s Championships on May 6.

NMA will then work with sponsor DFS Galleria in hosting the annual Silver Streak Fun Run and with the MVA for the Rota 10K fun Run in June.

All attention will then be turned to the 5th Micronesian Games, which will be held on Saipan from June 23 to July 7. NMA also indicated that it will work with the organizing committee for the Liberation Fest in holding a Fourth Of July Golden Mile Run.

Also, the NMA will hold an All-Schools Island Relay on Sept. 9, and will join forces with the Tinian Track Club in organizing the Tinian All-Schools Cross Country Championships on Oct. 7. Two weeks later, the athletics body will hold the Oceania Area Championships qualifier.

Another qualifier will be held on November, as well as the CNMI All-Schools Cross Country Championships and the annual Mt. Tapochao Turkey Trot Fun Run.

The year will close with athletes competing in the Oceania Area Championships in Apia, Samoa from Dec. 14-16, and teams competing in the annual Christmas Island Relay on Dec. 30.

For more information on activities organized by NMA, contact NMA coaches director Elias Rangamar at 664-2502, president Kurt Barnes at 235-5853, or treasurer Robin Sapong at 235-6500.