307 registered for Saipan Marathon 2022

Runners join Saipan Marathon 2019 in March 2019 in The Marianas. Saipan Marathon 2022 will feature a half-marathon, 10K, and 5K on April 9, 2022. (MVA)

Three hundred seven runners have registered for Saipan Marathon 2022 half-marathon, 10K, and 5K on Saturday, April 9, in The Marianas.

Registrants include 286 from The Marianas, 15 from the U.S.A., four from Guam, and two from Korea. The breakdown by race are 85 individuals for the half-marathon, 117 for the 10K, and 105 for the 5K. The race is expected to have a young turnout, with ages 13-17 being the largest age category.

The annual race is organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority in partnership with Northern Marianas Athletics.

“As our destination slowly recovers from the pandemic, we are happy to bring back Saipan Marathon this weekend, especially for our local runners,” said MVA managing director Priscilla M. Iakopo. “We invite the community to join us in cheering on our runners early in the morning, and we ask everyone help make it a safe race by driving carefully and tying up their dogs along the race route. We’re looking forward to a beautiful day and fun race for all!”

The race follows some of Saipan’s most scenic roadways, starting and ending at Micro Beach and American Memorial Park and providing stunning views of the azure blue lagoon along the Beach Road. Race packet pick-up will be available on Friday, April 8, from 5pm to 6:30pm at the American Memorial Park amphitheater. Start time on April 9 is 5:45am for the half-marathon, 6am for the 10K, and 6:10am for the 5K.

“NMA extends its sincere thank you to MVA for the partnership to this year’s Saipan Marathon,” said NMA president Ray Tebuteb. “Our generous sponsors are certainly the major key players to the success of this significant social occasion. We encourage our friends and our community to cheer for our participants and our visiting guests.”

All participants will receive a finisher’s T-shirt, a certificate of completion via email, and entry to the awards banquet at 5pm on race day at Aqua Resort Club. Additional guests for the banquet $18 for ages 6-11 and $35 for ages 12 and up .

The event is sponsored by the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands. In-kind contributors are Century Hotel, Serenity Hotel, and Aqua Resort Club Saipan. Aid stations will be provided by Saipan World Resort, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Triathlon Association of the CNMI, IT&E, Aqua Resort Club Saipan, Kensington Hotel Saipan, Coral Ocean Resort, and Pacific Islands Club Saipan. Supporters are Dept. of Public Safety, Dept. of Public Works, American Memorial Park, Division of Fire & Emergency Medical Services, Div. of Parks & Recreation, and Marianas Health Services.

The race is a World Athletics™-AIMS Certified Course, asWorld Athletics™ has agreed to extend the measurement certificates for another 12 months for the Saipan Half Marathon and 10K.

For more information, visit The Marianas Calendar at www.mymarianas.com or contact MVA Community Projects coordinator Ed Diaz at 1.670.664.3210 or ediaz@mymarianas.com. (PR)