Different paths for 2 sporting events

The 2008 Oceania Athletics Association Area Championship and Grand Prix Series hosted by Saipan, and the Pohnpei Micronesian Basketball Tournament in Kolonia took separate routes this week.

While the OAA Championship and Grand Prix Series is assured of taking place this June, the MBT got cancelled since only three countries will be fielding teams in this year’s games.

The OAA Championship and Grand Prix Series was in danger of being postponed after the Northern Marianas Athletics learned the Oleai Track and Field Facility inside the Susupe Sports Complex does not meet the measurement standards of the International Association of Athletics Federation.

NMA, however, said IAAF has approved funding the measurement certification that would certify the Oleai track, which is a requirement in terms of conducting the Area Championship and Grand Prix Series on a certified track.

The MBT, meanwhile, was postponed until next year since only host Pohnpei and Guam will be competing in the men’s and women’s divisions, while Kosrae will only send a men’s team.

Chuuk, Yap, CNMI, Nauru, and Kiribati have already informed Jim Tobin, who co-chairs the 2008 Pohnpeii MBT with Castro Joab, about their inability to send teams to the competition.

Tobin said Palau and the CNMI asked to postpone the MBT until next year while he has yet to receive any word from the Marshall Islands.

Former CNMI top netter Kana Aikawa, who won two gold and a bronze in the 6th Saipan Micronesian Games in 2006, tried her luck in golf after making it to the University of Hawai`i Manoa Rainbow Wahine women’s team.

Aikawa, a senior at UH-Manoa, finished the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational tied for 83rd with scores of 84, 88, and 880 for a total of 260 at the Kane`ohe Klipper Golf Course in Kane`ohe, O`ahu, Hawaii.

The Rainbow Wahine finished fourth overall with a final score of 303-302-323 for a total of 928. They finished behind champion Oklahoma State University, University of Arizona, and Arizona State.

Trench Tech Purebred Saipan Gym moved to their new home located in Afetna Square or Babauta estate behind the Sablan Building in San Antonio.

Trench Tech’s new home is a former garment factory behind the Immigration Building in San Antonio. It is possible that the next Trench Warz or Rites of Passage will be held at their new gym.

The duo of Jojo Lazaro and Christy Villaflor bested five other pairs to rule the Northern Marianas Badminton Federation weekend open, which returned after a weeklong break last week at the Ada Gym.

The Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation also held a general membership meeting where longtime Saipan resident and triathlon enthusiast Russ Quinn was elected as the new president.

Quinn replaced former president Brad Ruszala, who stepped down due to conflicts with his work schedule and obligations in the CNMI National Men’s Football Team.