Trials for Micronesian Athletics Championships begins Saturday

In hopes of assembling a team that will represent the Commonwealth in the upcoming Micronesian Athletics Championships, Northern Marianas Athletics will hold the first of several qualifying trials this Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field facility.

According to NMA coaches’ director Elias Rangamar, the upcoming trial will begin on Oct. 1 at 2pm.

“Anyone interested in representing the CNMI in the Championships is welcome to take part in the trials and must qualify for each event to make the CNMI team,” Rangamar said.

The Championships will be held on Dec. 14 and 15 on Saipan and will play host to about 100 athletes from the CNMI, Guam, Palau, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, and Kiribati.

More trials will be held in the coming months and dates will be released soon.

Rangamar said the main track and field events that would be featured in the Championships include sprints, middle distance, and throws.

Team CNMI, which will be led by head coach Bob Winkfield, is allowed only three slots in each event for both the male and female category.

Rangamar also extended on behalf of the NMA an invitation to anyone interested in volunteering to assist officials before and during the games.

Meanwhile, the NMA has also launched a logo-designing contest and anyone interested in taking part is welcome.

“NMA works on behalf of all local track and field athletes, and a new image that shows track and field in action in the CNMI is desired,” the body said.

The logo should incorporate the full name of the federation—Northern Marianas Athletics—and the winning submission will receive $100.

The deadline to submit entries is 5pm on Oct. 17. The logo must be resizable and no larger than 5” X 5”. Entries can be submitted via email or CD-ROM. A half page explanation of why the artist thinks the image should be used must be submitted along with the logo.

Shortly after the deadline, the NMA board will convene and decide the winner. An announcement of the winner will be made no later than Oct. 31.

All entries will become sole property of the NMA and the logo selected will be used in multi media such as web, print, clothing, and signage, to name a few.

For more information or to submit entries, contact Elias Rangamar at 664-2502, Kurt Barnes at 235-5853 or email to kurtproa@yahoo.com, or Shan Seman at 235-2440 ext 140 or email to sharomai@yahoo.com.