National teams put up strong performances in Fatu’ul Classic

The CNMI men’s and women’s national outrigger canoeing teams put up strong performances in the recent 7th Mau Fatu’ul Canoe Paddling Classic, showing positive signs for the upcoming 6th Micronesian Games.

The competition, held last May 20 at the Kilili Beach, is held annually in honor of grand master navigator Pius Mau Piailug, and served as a golden opportunity for the members of the national teams to experience strong competition before the Micro Games.

In the men’s corner, the Nationals finished tied with the Saipan Outrigger Canoe Club in first place, while Fatu’ul placed second.

The Nationals and SOCC split the six races, each winning three. The Nationals won two 1,500m races and a 500m contest, while SOCC won two 500m events and a 1,500m race. Fatu’ul finished in third in all races.

In the first 1,500m event, the Nationals paddled through with a time of 7:43.56, while SOCC posted a time of 8:02.82 and Fatu’ul finished in 8:39.69.

SOCC responded strong by winning the first 500m race in 2:23.03, while the Nationals finished in 2:23.19. Fatu’ul came in at 2:30.48.

The Nationals were back on top by winning the second 1,500m leg in 7:47.98, but SOCC retaliated by taking the second 500m race in 2:22.59.

SOCC then swung advantage to their corner by winning the final 1,500m race in 7:54.58, only to finish in a tie after the Nationals won the final 500m event in 2:24.58.

In the women’s corner, the Nationals won four of the six races to take first place while SOCC had a fair share of the spotlight by winning two races for second place.

The Nationals won two 1,500m races and two 500m races, kicking things off by winning the first 1,500m event in 9:10.32, while SOCC clocked in at 9:11.81.

The Nationals followed by dominating the first 500m race with a time of 2:43.88, with SOCC finishing in 3:07.81.

It was three in a row when the Nationals won the next 1,500m in 9:14.16. SOCC recorded a time of 9:17.95, but came back strong and won the next 500m race in 2:47.09, with the Nationals clocking in at 2:54.41.

SOCC won again in the 1,500m with a time of 9:21.09 as the Nationals slowed down and finished in 9:40.95. The Nationals then secured the win by taking the final 500m race in 2:49.77. SOCC finished that race in 2:52.19.

The Micro Games will be held from June 23 to July 2, with over 1,400 athletes and officials from around the region expected to take part.