All Schools returns under new norm

Runners from Saipan International School and Kagman Elementary School line up in the starting line of the 9U 60m in yesterday’s Public School System All Schools Track and Field Championship at the Oleai Track and Field. (Mark Rabago)

The Public School System All Schools Track and Field Championship started yesterday under a new norm forced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead of a multitude of athletes, coaches, parents, and classmates cramming themselves into the Oleai Track and Field, Public School System athletic director Nick Gross made sure social distancing was observed by staggering participants for the event.

On the first day of the elementary qualifiers yesterday, Saipan International School, Agape Christian School, Kagman Elementary School, and Brilliant Star School were the only schools scheduled to compete, while William S. Reyes Elementary School, Saipan Community School, and Isla Montessori will have their turn tomorrow, April 14, with Tinian and Rota elementary schools joining them after the qualifiers.

Gross said despite the restrictions and lack of people in the stands to cheer athletes, he’s just glad that the All Schools Track and Field Championship is back.

He said they’ve broken the elementary school qualifiers into two groups to enable them to practice social distancing more effectively. The same will be done with the middle school and high school qualifiers, which will both kick off next Wednesday, April 21.

In all events at all age levels—9U, 12U, 14U, and 18U—the Top 6 competitors coming out of the qualifiers will be invited to the championships, along with Tinian and Rota’s top performers, scheduled in the elementary division for May 7-8 and the middle school and high school division on May 14-15.

In yesterday’s results, Brilliant Star’s Moshi Sikkel and SIS’ Jude Rayphand dominated the running events in the 12U and 9U boys after topping their respective age groups. In the 200m, Rayphand was the first to cross the finish line in a time of 36.66 followed by Kagman’s Jayton Dela Cruz and Ashton Manalo with times of 41.12 and 41.66, respectively.

Sikkel, meanwhile, had the fastest time in the U12 200m, as he outsprinted all comers in his heat with a time of 30:38. He was followed by teammate Aiden Camacho (31:63) and Kagman’s Tatum Jones (41:52).

In the 800m, Rayphand also topped the 9U with a time of 3:30:74, followed by Brilliant Star’s Evan Poole (3:35:13) and SIS’ Gabriel Walsh (3:54:41). Sikkel again had the fastest time in the 800m for U12 after finishing first with a time of 2:26:35. The only runner in his heat was Brilliant Star’s Danny Cheng (2:55:99).

In the 60m sprint, Rayphand was at it again, topping his age group in a time of 10:16 with Dela Cruz (10:63) and Manalo (11:45) in his coattails. Sikkel was far and away a class by himself in the 60m for his age group as he made short work of the track in a time of 8:6. Camacho and Jones again finished second and third with times of 8:85 and 10:81, respectively.

Results of the 9U and 12U girls 60m, 200m, and 400m as well as the boys and girls long jump will be reported in the next issues of the Saipan Tribune.

The All Schools meet is NMA’s grassroots program and has produced talented athletes who represented the CNMI in international tournaments, such as the World Championships and the Oceania Area Championships.

The event has also served as a training ground for young athletes wanting to don the Commonwealth colors in regional competitions like the Micronesian Games and Micronesian Championships.