Suzuki, Wang top NMC Turkey Run

Top roadrunners Yoshi Suzuki and Bo Wang burned rubber Saturday morning, topping their divisions in the 12th Annual Northern Marianas College Turkey Run.

Suzuki was the overall champion and took home a gift certificate good for a free turkey after completing the 5-kilometer course in just 18:34. It was a tough battle for the top spot as the run also featured veteran speedsters Steve Pixley and Jack Kabiriel, who were just seconds behind to finish second and third overall with times of 18:39 and 18:40. Suzuki’s performance was top for the male 44-and-under public category, while Pixley topped the 45-and-over public division.

For her part, Wang was the lone female competitor in the female 44-and-under public division and placed seventh overall in 20:28.

Josh Tumaquip ran like the wind and posted the fifth best time to win the student male category after clocking in at 19:38, while Shino Goto won the student female competition in 29:40.

Also going home with a free turkey certificate was Sol Barnes, who crossed the finish line in 28:37 to win the staff 36-and-over female competition, while Rob Schultz posted a time of 22:54 to take top honors in the staff 36-and-over male category.

In all, 22 runners took on the early morning challenge that began at 6am at the NMC Gymnasium. The group worked its way toward the Dandan Shell Station, turned right to the NAP office parking lot, which served as the turning point. The runners then worked their back toward Happy Market, making a left turn at the nearby intersection before making their way back to the gym.

Other top 10 overall finishers include Chang Wang Jang (4th 18:53), Myung Chul Suh (6th 19:58), Shan Seman (8th 21:11), and Champ Untalan and Nate Mateo tied for ninth and 10th (21:18).

All participants were given free event T-shirts.

“It was pretty successful,” said coordinator Rufino Aguon. “We’ll be looking for more participants next year…we didn’t have one last year so I guess people didn’t really know if there would be one this year, but it was good. There was a good combination of students, staff, and the public, which is why we hold this event…to build camaraderie between NMC and the public.”

Aguon went on to thank all who helped with the event, including the Department of Public Safety, volunteers, and alumni of the institution.

“Without them, this wouldn’t be successful,” he said.