13 triathletes sign up for Mini Games tryouts

A total of 13 triathletes have so far signed up for this Saturday’s tryouts for the CNMI National Triathlon Team that will represent the Commonwealth in the 2022 Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games.

The first round of tryouts the Triathlon Association of the CNMI will be conducting is of the sprint triathlon variety and will start at 6am at Paupau Beach in San Roque. It will consist of a 750m swim, a 20km bike (Paupau/Seafix/Banzai/Paupau), and 5km run (Paupau/Ayuyu Drive/Paupau).

Ruszala

The participants include eight women triathletes led by multi-sport wunderkind Kaithlyn Chavez, Janet King, Shawna Brennfleck, Ayano Braxton, Tania Tan, Kathy Ruszala, Lily Muldoon, and Heather Brook. The five men that will tackle the course, meanwhile, will include TRAC president Manny Sitchon, former Saipan Swim Club coach Jacoby Winkfield, Eric David Li, and swimmers Christian Villacrusis and Isaiah Aleksenko.

As per the Pacific Games Council manual, TRAC earlier said that to be eligible for the Mini Games an athlete must be a U.S. passport-holder and must have resided in the CNMI for five years.

The 2022 Mini Games will be held in the CNMI from June 17 to 25. Triathlon, one of nine sports that will be offered in the Mini Games, will have 53 participants and will be held in the southernmost island of the CNMI on Rota.

Winkfield

The triathlon tryouts for next year’s Mini Games is sponsored by Bridge Capital LLC and Brabu Pharmacy & Wellness Center.
Aside from the triathlon tryouts, the islands’ youth will also be included in the triathlon action as TRAC will also hold the Taga Kids Triathlon on the same day starting at 8am.

There will be two divisions—5-8 years old (50m swim/1 loops bike/1 loop run) and 9-12 years old (100m swim/2 loops bike/2 loops run)—and the entire course will be confined at the Paupau Beach complex.

TRAC secretary general Ricky Castro said 12 participants have signed up for the Taga Kids Triathlon, which will include a mixed relay division.

“Every kid who conquers the course will earn a finisher’s medal,” said Castro.

Registration for both the Mini Games tryout and Taga Kids closed last Aug. 15, 2021. TRAC also emphasized that there absolutely will be no extension on the registration deadline and no-race day registration.

For more information and updates on the twin events hosted by TRAC, check https://www.facebook.com/groups/610323035687262.