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Tagaman welcomes Kaike racers
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Posted on Feb 09 2006
Organizers of the 17th Tagaman Triathlon received word that their marketing efforts overseas have been paying off as another foreign multi-sport association is sending two of its top endurance aficionados to Saipan for this April’s race.
According to Pacific Development, Inc. general manager Yoichi Matsumura, the organizers of the Kaike Triathlon in the Japanese prefecture of Tottori recently sent word that the first batch of winners from last July’s 25th Annual Kaike Triathlon accepted an invitation to participate in this April’s Tagaman Triathlon, which is set on April 8.
Toshio Okazaki and Naomi Onishi will be coming to Saipan in less than two months from now to challenge Tagaman’s 2-kilometer swim, 60-km bike, and 15-km run, but the duo has faced greater challenges at home in Japan.
Every year more than 1,200 hopeful triathletes attempt to gain entry into the Kaike Triathlon, but only 800 are able to challenge the 3-km swim, 145-km bicycle, and 42.195-km run course through the mountainous Tottori countryside.
Okazaki placed 26th overall in last year’s race, while Onishi was the women’s 15th finisher, and 201st overall. Despite pushing their bodies to the limits in the mega-distance race, both of them have expressed their excitement to compete in crystal-clear waters and eye-enticing road courses that only Tagaman offers.
Last year, Taga Inc., PDI, DFS, and the MVA sent a triathlete and a three-member support staff to the Kaike Triathlon to help spread the word about Saipan’s longest multi-sport event. Aside from meeting with event coordinators and government officials, the presence of a local competitor enabled the ambassadors to develop relationships that helped to make this visit possible.
This July, the organizers of the 26th Annual Kaike race will once again be hosting multi-sport athletes from the CNMI.
