National track meet attracts crowd

The 2009 CNMI National Track and Field Championships held Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex drew around 200 participants with familiar names in the older age group living up to expectations and new faces in the younger age division showing promise.

World championships veteran Tyrone Omar was among those who delivered in the Saturday meet. He won in the 100m run, shot put, and discus throw in the open division.

Other top winners in the open category were Yvonne Bennett (100m and 400m), Jesus Iguel (200m and long jump), Clayton Kenty (400m), Pamela De Leon Guerrero (800m), Champ Untalan (800m), and Trevor Ogumoro (high jump).

In the 18-and-under division, the winner’s list included Hee Yun Daniel Kim, Jacque Wonenberg, Juan Iguel, Deborah Duhig, Douglas Dillay, Untalan, Pamela Deleon Guerrero, Trevor Ogumoro, Lia Rangamar, Anthony Foster, Mike Iguel, and Kroy Ogumoro.

The 14-and-under age group, which drew more than 20 participants, had Bo Barry, Brandon Phillip, Dorothy Jebehn, Victoria Reyes, Tori Reyes, Justin Poon, Christopher Lam, and Christian Tudela as first placers.

The 12-and-under category had the most participants with around 70 student-athletes. After hours of competition, making it to the top winners group were Jeremy Lizama, Dionne Deleon Guerrero, Phalai Frink, Jin Pyo Jeon, Tammy Silio, Angelo Jones, Gabrielle Race, Zarinae Sapong, Joel Demapan, Monica Sepia, and Jerry Rodriguez.

In the 10-and-under age group, more than 40 joined the running, throwing, and jumping events of the one-day national meet and 10 emerged as top finishers. They were Juan Quitugua, Kelena Saures, Lucy Park, Juan Kitigwen, Mark Catindig, Donn Malwelbug, Maria Olupumar, William Johnson, Kalea Andrew, and Austin Aguon.

The CNMI championships also featured competitions in the 8-and-under age group, which attracted around 30 participants. In the end, seven stood tall and they were Carlos Aguon, Janelle Reyes, Anthony Deleon Guerrero, Miyuki Muna, A.J. Hudkins, Jeremy Okaruru, and John Santos.

Northern Marianas Athletics, which organized the meet, also held relay races (4x400m and 4x100m) in each age group.

The national championships doubled as a qualifier for the 2009 McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Meet.

Only the top six placers in the Saipan qualifier will advance to the All Schools event. The two remaining slots are reserved for Rota and Tinian students. In case Tinian and Rota do not have participants in an event, the next two finishers will take the slots. Also, student-athletes are allowed to join only four events.

In the championships, the Top 3 students in each event will receive medals, while NMA will award trophies to the Top 3 schools.

Schools will get points based on how their students finished in each event. First finisher gets 10 points, eight for second, six for third, four for fifth, two for fifth, and one for sixth.

This year’s All Schools meet has been moved from May 9 to May 16 to give schools more time to prepare for the tournament.

For more information about the schedule of qualifiers, contact NMA’s Elias Rangamar at 664-2502 or via email at eli_rang@yahoo.com.