Dandan, WPS rule 9-and-under division

Athletes from Dandan Elementary School and Whispering Palms School put up remarkable performances during Saturday’s McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships, ruling the 9-and-under divisions to take home the championships of the team competition.

Dandan placed first in the boys category, finishing the day with 83 points after netting six gold medals, and two silvers, while placing in the top six two other times.

Tanapag and Koblerville elementary schools placed second and third with 64 and 40 points. TES garnered four silver medals, two bronze, and had three athletes place in the top six, while KES finished with a gold, a silver, two bronze, and three top six finishes.

Spearheading Dandan’s charge was Poland Masaharu, who struck gold in the 100m and 200m sprints and the softball throw, while anchoring his team to a first place finish in the 4X100m relay.

He first ran like the wind in the 100m, clocking in at 16.35 seconds, while teammate Jeremy Rabauliman and McCoy Santos placed second and third with times of 16.60 and 16.63.

Masaharu made it known that he was the fastest after completing the sprint sweep in the 200m, crossing the finish line in 35.12 seconds. Santos took the silver in 36.85, while Sean Rabasto of William S. Reyes Elementary School grabbed the bronze in 36.92.

Masaharu also showed his versatility, throwing for 32.75 meters in the softball throw for another gold. He was followed by teammate Joshua Barcinas (31.40) and Santos (27.08).

Masaharu, Rabauliman, Phillip Passi, and Jessie Brel then combined to take the 4X100m relay in 1:08.3. They were followed by Tanapag’s Ian Otobed, Joaquin Tito, Haini Blas, and Angelo Guevarra, who completed the task in 1:14.3. WPS took the bronze in 1:18.0 and their members include Clay McCullough Stearns, Jae Ko, Christian Miller, and Jake Lee.

Dandan’s Brel, Passi, Jerry Muna, and McJay Espina also took gold in the 4X400m relay in 6:04.3, followed by Tanapag (6:14.8).

Other gold medallists were Santos in the 400m (1:22.93), Otobed in the 800m (3:18.0), Kensuke Kimura of Saipan Community School in the 1,500m (6:39.6), and Rabauliman in the long jump (3.01 meters).

Meanwhile, WPS topped the girls competition with a gold, three silver, two bronze and four top six finishes for 69 points. KES followed with four gold, a silver, and another top six for 50 points, while Dandan placed third with two gold, two bronze, and four top six for 40 points.

Ilia Corella put up WPS’ gold by taking the 400m in 1:22.14, while Saipan International School’s Cyrena Patillo and Ashley Babauta of TES placed second and third with times of 1:30.29 and 1:32.13.

Rachel Abrams of KES was the dominant individual in the division, taking gold in all four of her events, beginning her quest by taking the 100m in 16.4 seconds. She was followed by Michaela Grandinetti of WPS (16.85) and Josi Santos of Dandan (16.90).

Abrams then sprinted to victory in the 200m, posting a time of 35.46 seconds, while Babauta and Tinian’s Raynalynn Borja took silver and bronze in 36.42 and 36.97 seconds.

Like Masaharu, Abrams showed she also has what it takes to be successful in field events, taking gold in both the softball throw and long jump.

The KES student leaped for a distance of 3.25 meters in the long jump, besting silver medallist Corella (2.66) and bronze medallist Doreen Tagabuel (2.63) for the gold.

Earlier in the day, she threw for 25.46 meters for softball gold. Teammate Jenny Serlim took silver with 19.9 and Mary Nimwes of Dandan took bronze with 19.64.

For her part, Liane Riley of SCS dominated the middle distance events, winning both the 800m and 1,500m races.

Riley first tackled the 1,500m race, completing the challenge in a sterling 6:31.46, while Gabrielle Race of WPS (7:06.44) and Borja (8:02.61) placed second and third.

Her dominance carried over to the 800m as she crossed the finish line way ahead of the pack in 3:13.04. Grace Christian Academy’s Lorna Bansil (3:56.26) and Phalai Frink of WPS (4:15.90) were second and third.

Dandan took the gold in the girls’ 4X100m relay followed by TES and WPS.

Dandan also took the 4X400m relay.