17 runners reach past 100-mile target

Sebastien Manabat, front right, seen here running with his fellow CNMI players and middle distance runner Noriko Jim, left, participated in the Life in the Son Go the Xtra Mile Virtual Run/Walk Challenge. (Contributed Photo)

Seventeen runners who participated in the Life in the Son Go the Xtra Mile Virtual Run/Walk Challenge made it past the 100-mile mark as the event concluded last Dec. 31.

Fifty-eight year-old Lito Recto of Saipan logged the most miles in the month-long challenge after recording 351. Joining Recto in the Top 3 overall rankings were two Saipan female runners—Moji de Luna and ¬Tania Tan. De Luna tallied 269.19 miles, while Tan, who earned most of her mileage while running in Hawaii, registered 208.16 miles.

The 14 other runners to hit past the 100-mile were all from Saipan. Marilou Carlos was ranked fourth overall with her 193.13 miles and was followed by Jay-Ar Barrios (160.72), Ambet Omampo (149.93), Vhoie Francia (140.26), Nancy Omampo (135.58), Yulia Aleksenko (122.98), Eric Abragan (119.87), Lydia Tan (116.22), Mie Takatsuji (112.03), and Daryll De Luna (110.34),

Sharon Abragan (107.57), Christian Joseph Yap (101.22), Marian Guieb (100.09), and Manny Sitchon (100.01).

Life in the Son Go the Xtra Mile Virtual Run/Walk Challenge winners pose for a group photo during the event’s awards ceremony last Sunday at the Life in the Son Main Hall. (Irine Deang)

Meanwhile, players and officials of the CNMI national football teams had a separate competition in the Life in the Son Go the Xtra Mile Virtual Run/Walk Challenge with Jersh Angeles, Anthony Fruit, and Sebastian Manabat making it to the Top 3.

Angeles logged the most miles with his 111.4, while the Germany-based Fruit recorded 100.08 miles to rank second. Manabat’s 75.03 miles landed him at the No. 3 spot. Northern Mariana Islands Football Association technical director and head coach Michiteru Mita and men’s national team goalie Christopher Aninzo had 61.84and 44.17 miles, respectively to round out the Top 5.

More than 50 CNMI players and coaches joined the Life in the Son Go the Xtra Mile Virtual Run/Walk Challenge as part of their cross training. They were given option to walk/run 50 or 100 miles from Dec. 1 to 31, 2020 and 38 reached their target mileage.

The challenge was open for both on and off-island runners/walkers and was organized to encourage people to be active, especially at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. IT&E, the Tan Siu Lin Foundation, Athlete’s Foot, Micronesian Brokers, Inc., Joeten Enterprises, TRAC, R&M Printers, Gold’s Gym, Latte Built, KFC, Shirley’s Coffee Shop, NMIFA, and LITS Saipan were the event’s sponsors.