Saipan women queens of Tinian cross-country

(Part 2 of 2)

The young women of Saipan journeyed to Tinian last weekend on what was termed as a perfect day for running, to compete with 85 long-distance runners who gathered upon the campus of Tinian Elementary School to participate in the 2nd Annual cross-country meet, sponsored by the school’s Parent Teacher Association.

As boys and girls under the age of 18 from Saipan and Tinian competed in hopes of winning medals and ribbons in front of their friends and family last Saturday, Oct. 23, it was the women of Saipan that were the most successful in the Northern Marianas Islands Track and Field Federation officiated and TES Physical Education committee coordinated event.

Cheered on by a crowd of parents and teachers, the children were separated into seven age groups, beginning with the 7-and-under, 9-and-under, 11-and-under, 13-and-under, 15-and-under, 17-and-under, and the 18-and-over. The parents of the competitors were even allowed to walk and run alongside their children.

While the runners from Tinian Elementary School took the top three spots in the boy’s 9-and-under, 9-year-old Liane Riley of Saipan Community School was the first to run the mile and a quarter around the campus for the girls, finishing with a time of 6:20. Riley finished ahead of 9-year-old Raynalyn H. Borja (7:02) and 8-year-old Yun Ha Seo (7:12) of Tinian Elementary School

A familiar name was the first to finish in the girl’s 11-and-under division, as 10-year-old Reylynn Sapong of Koblerville Elementary School streaked across the finish line in 5:26. 11-year-old Lisa Riley of Saipan Community School finished just two seconds behind at 5:28,while 10-year-old Julycia H. Borja of TES took third with a time of 6:59.

The bar was raised for the participants above the age of 11, as their race consisted of three laps around the campus for a total of 2.6 miles.

TJHS finished strong in the girl’s 13-and-under race, with 12-year-old speedster Genevie Mundo in 15:45 and 12-year-old Hollyann Ayuyu finishing in16:10, but once again the first place finisher hailed from across the trench. Thirteen-year-old Wang Chang from Hopwood Junior High School zipped around the campus three times to finish in 12:45.

Only 14-year-old Gresil Mendiola of Marianas High School entered the girl’s 15-and-underrace, and she finished with a respectable 13:50.

The only thing that Saipan needed was to win the girl’s 17-and-under category to take the first place broom back home, and 16 year-old Bo Wang and 17-year-old Hana Joo of Marianas High School were the only entrants.

The perennial princess of distance, Wang finished with an impressive 11:43, while Joo ran a respectable 14:50.

Medals were awarded to the top three finishers of each event and ribbons were awarded to the remaining through seventh place.

As a reminder, NMITFF will hold a coaches clinic on Dec. 4, 9am-12pm, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room for all school representative and coaches. The clinic will deal with the basic fundamentals of track and field.