Another strong week in the books

It was another week of big news as athletes from various sports shared the spotlight.

The week kicked off with 35 youngsters braving the tough TagaKids Tryathlon challenge early Sunday morning. The event, which began and ended at the pacific Islands Club, featured two courses for four age groups, with the 6-7 and 8-9 age groups taking on a 100-meter swim, 2.5-kilometer bike, and 1-km run. The 10-11 and 12-13 age groupers took on a 200-m swim, 5-km bike, and 2-km run.

While tackling the course, the kids received strong support from officials of the Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation, parents, as well as professional triathletes who competed in the 17th Tagaman Triathlon the day before.

Saipan Swim Club star Nina Mosley and coach Michael Stewart also returned from the 8th FINA World Swimming Championships in Shanghai, China, where Mosley was able to set three personal best performances in front of about 15,000 spectators at the Qi Zhong Stadium.

Saipan’s Jeff Race also returned to home soil after guiding the Pacific Oceania Davis Cup Team to a 3-2 victory against Malaysia at Ligue Caledonienne de Tennis Stadium, headquarters of Ligue Caledonienne de tennis in Noumea, New Caledonia. With the win, Pacific Oceania rose to No. 63 in the world rankings and remained in Group II.

Cager Steve Rasa also made headlines as he burned the nets of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium for 70 points on Monday night to lead Department of Labor to a 126-54 victory over Department of Public Works in the 2006 Inter-Government Basketball League, which will kick off its playoffs tomorrow night.

Mark Halstead and Emi Williams topped the April King and Queen of the Lanes Ten-pin Bowling Tournament on Monday, while Jeremy Williams was honored at Prince of the Lanes.

The Marianas Amateur Table Tennis Association also announced its roster for the 6th Micronesian Games. MATTA president and national coach Steven Lim named 2006 Mini Games bronze medalists Su Yong Dong, Chen Lin Ying, and Budhi Gurung to the squad, which also include Tinian stalwarts Luke Lu, Charlie Cheng, and Liang Wei Bin. The latter will serve as alternate.

Doubles champions in the 2006 Pacific Islands Club Tennis Championships were crowned, the drive to retain the XTERRA Saipan Championships also gained big support from supporters on and off island, and the 4th Annual NMC Foundation Open continued to receive generous contributions from the private sector and support from Gov. Benigno R. Fitial.

The San Antonio Sixers I also secured a slot in the finals of the 2006 Island-wide Village Youth Basketball League, and will face the Chalan Kanoa Kings or No. 2 Garapan Rollers, who will battle on Wednesday for the final title game slot.