All Schools qualifiers return tomorrow

After observing Holy Week, Northern Marianas Athletics will resume with qualifiers leading up to the 2006 McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships.

The qualifiers make a return tomorrow afternoon with six schools in the 9-and-under and 11-and-under divisions making their push in hopes of qualifying for one of the six slots available for each event.

Scheduled to take part in the qualifiers to be held at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field oval are Koblerville, San Antonio, San Vicente, and William S. Reyes elementary schools, as well as Mt. Carmel School and Saipan Community School.

Tuesday has been reserved for students from Dandan, Tanapag, Kagman, and Gregorio T. Camacho elementary schools, Seventh Day Adventist, and Calvary Baptist Academy, while Garapan and Oleai elementary schools will join Grace Christian Academy, Whispering Palms School, Saipan International School, and Joshua Generation International on Wednesday April 19.

Events to be held on all three days include the 400m, 800m, 4X400m relay, and softball throw.

Junior high and high schools students will make their return to the track on April 20. Schools include Hopwood and Cha Cha Oceanview junior high schools, Grace Christian Academy, Mt. Carmel School, Calvary Christian Academy, Saipan International School, and Saipan Community School for junior high competition. High schools include Marianas, Kagman, and Saipan Southern high schools, GCA, MCS, and Northern Marianas Academy.

The schools will compete in 400m, 800m, high jump, javelin, and 4X400m relay.

Individuals will compete for slots in the Championships, which will be on May 6. An individual is limited to just four events for the Championships, with exception to the 11-and-under and 9-and-under participants who are competing in the 800m and 1,500m events, who will be competing in only three events.

Six slots will be available for Saipan athletes as the two remaining spots will be occupied by Tinian and Rota. In the case that Rota or Tinian does not have a competitor in an event, the next best finisher from the Saipan qualifiers will take the slot.

Each event will also count in the team scoring, with each first place finish earning 10 points, second place earning eight points, third place six points, fourth place four points, fifth place two points, and sixth place one point.

Team trophies will be awarded to the top three schools in each age category for boys and girls. Medals will also be presented to the top three performers in each event.

For more information, contact coaches’ director Elias Rangamar at 664-2502 or email to eli_rang@yahoo.com or email NMA secretary general Robin Sapong at sapong@pti.net.