Ashfall cancels sports events

Not only did yesterday’s sudden heavy ashfall brought about by the eruption of Anatahan bring fear and panic to several residents, it also forced sports officials to postpone regular scheduled activities.

The World Organized Rocball High School League championship series, Island-wide Village Youth Basketball League, and the opening of the qualifying time trials for the All Schools Track and Field Championships were all pushed back due to the alert issued by the Emergency Management Office and Department of Public Health.

According to IVYBL coordinator Jonathan Tenorio, last night’s game between the Matansa Sparks Kagman will be rescheduled and played at a later date. Today’s bout pitting sister teams San Antonio Sixers I and Sixers II may also be postponed if the volcanic haze and ash fall advisory remains in effect. Tenorio, however, said teams should verify with league officials today to confirm the postponement or non-postponement of games.

Meanwhile, Game 2 of the World Organized Rocball High School League championship series between Mwaliyas and SKN will be played today at 12:30pm at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. The game was originally scheduled for yesterday. However, all classes were cancelled due to the advisory, resulting in the sport’s founder Jim Feger rescheduling the bout.

Entering as the underdogs, Mwaliyas stunned SKN and took Game 1 Tuesday afternoon, 49-36, for the early series lead.

The time trials for the All Schools Track and Field Championships is set to kick off tomorrow after being reset yesterday.

According to Northern Mariana Islands Track and Field Federation official Elias Rangamar, events scheduled for yesterday and today, originally pitting athletes in the 9-and-under and 11-and-under division, will be made up at the end of the trials four weeks from now.

Athletes in the high school and junior high school divisions will begin their push tomorrow, seeing action in the 100m, 200m, 1,500m, discus, shot put, long jump, and 4X100m relay.

Seven junior high schools are scheduled to make their debut including Hopwood and Chacha Oceanview junior high schools, GCA, Mt. Carmel School, Calvary Christian Academy, Saipan International School, and Saipan Community School.

High School teams invited for the day include Northern Marianas Academy, GCA, MCS, and Marianas, Saipan Southern, and Kagman high schools.