Manglona leads April’s best

Tinian triathlete Joshua Manglona made it to NMASA’s elite list for the first time, as he and three others were named Athletes of the Month for April during the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association meeting Thursday night at the conference room of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Manglona, who just started getting involved in triathlon last year, was cited for his performance in the 2009 XTERRA Saipan Championships and 20th Tagaman Triathlon last month.

The 21-year-old Tinian pride debuted in the Crown Jewel of XTERRA Series with a runner-up finish in the 20 to 24 age group. He completed the grueling 1-km swim leg, 30-km bike race, and the 10-k run portion in four hours, 40 minutes, and 54 seconds.

In the longer Tagaman races, Manglona finished the 1.5-km swim leg, 60-km road bike race, and 15-km run in 4:27:23.

Getting the NMASA Male Athlete of the Month for April is a sort of belated gift for the Tinian triathlete, who celebrated his 21st birthday last month.

Joining Manglona in the monthly awardees list were tennis’ Rafael Jones and Melody Johnson and Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan’s Angel Tan.

Jones claimed the Male Student Athlete of the Month plum for winning the boys’14-and-under singles title in last month’s 2009 CNMI Junior Tennis Championships.

Jones prevailed in the finals over perennial rival Christian Miller despite losing in the first set, 1-6. The Saipan International School Student swept the last two sets, 6-4, 6-4, to nail a come-from-behind win.

Johnson and Tan were named co-Female Student Athletes of the Month.

Johnson is making a return in local junior tennis scene after leaving for the mainland about three years ago to be with her then ailing father and is quickly returning to her old top form. She won the girls’ 14-and-under singles tiara in the Commonwealth’s junior championships after downing Neghar Rastguiy in straight sets, 6-2. 6-0.

Tan joined last month’s Tsunami Saipan-Saipan Swim Club mutual meet and recorded four personal best times.

She clocked in at 44.41 seconds in 50m breaststroke, less than three seconds behind the CNMI age group record (9 to 10) of 42.54. In the 100m breaststroke, the 10-year-old swimmer timed in at 1:38.64, also less than three seconds shy of the CNMI age group mark (1:35.67). In the 200m breaststroke and 400m freestyle swims, Tan submitted personal best times of 3:31.53 and 6:27.20, respectively.