Yvonne dominates sprint races

CNMI’s top sprinter Yvonne Bennett lived up to expectations, dominating three individual races in the 2009 All Schools Track and Field Championships held last Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex.

Micronesia’s fastest woman clocked in 13.26 seconds in the 100m race to down four other runners, including twin sister Yvette (13.45), and win her first individual gold medal in the girls U18 division. Yvonne holds the CNMI National Record in the 100m at 13.04 seconds.

In the 200m race, Yvonne timed in at 28.16 seconds to top Yvette (28.84 seconds) and MHS bets Deborah Duhig (29.65), Reylynn Sapong (31.21), and Julie Duatin (33.61).

The 2008 NMASA Female Athlete of the Year awardee also ruled the 400m race, finishing the event in 1:07.52 and thwarting Duhig (1:10.93) and Sapong (1:14.31).

Yvonne’s most impressive race was in the 4x100m relay run, as she came from behind and beat an MHS runner in a down-to-the-wire finish. Yvonne was still behind in the last 10 meters of the relay race when she surprised MHS’ fourth runner and the crowd, reaching the finish line few steps ahead of the Lady Dolphins finisher. The official times in the 4x100m relay race were unavailable at press time, but it was the closest run in the two-day meet.

Besides Yvonne, other multiple gold medalist in this year’s All Schools meet were Hopwood Junior High School’s Brandon Phillip, Rachel Abrams, and Joanne Reyes, and MHS’ Lia Rangamar and Champ Untalan

Phillip won in the boys’ U14 100 and 200m runs, timing in at 12.81 seconds and 26.21 seconds, respectively. Phillip won his third gold medal after his victory in the U14 long jump.

Phillip’s schoolmate, Reyes and Abrams, claimed two gold medals apiece in the girls’ U14. Abrams ruled the 100m run (14.02 seconds) and 200m race (30.38) while Reyes prevailed in long-distance events, winning the 800m run (3:01.54) and 3,000m (13:34.01).

Rangamar topped field events, placing first in the girls’ U18 long jump and javelin and shot put throws, while Untalan triumphed in running events. Untalan finished first in the 800m run (2:15.16) and 1,500m race (5:09.51).

In the U14 1,500m race, Saipan Community School’s Justin Poon dominated the boys division, while Hopwood’s Chris Obaldo won in the girls division. The girls’ U18 1,500m gold medal went to Duhig.

In the 3,000m race, brothers Michael and Matt Mancao topped the U14 and U18 divisions after clocking in at 12:29.40 and 11:08.00, respectively.

Winners in other running events were Northern Marianas Academy’s Daniel Hee Yun (U18 100m), Hopwood’s Charles Bautista (U14 800m), MHS’ Sapong (U18 800m), Hopwood’s Kenneth Babauta and Samantha Marquez (U14 400m), and MHS’ Clayton Kenty (U18 400m).

In the field events, winners were Hopwood’s Richard Saturno and Rita Delavillano (U14 javelin throw), Kagman’s Christian Aguon (U18 javelin), Saipan International School’s Lani Russel (U14 long jump), MHS’ Greg Duatin (U18 long jump), SCS’ Dae Hyun Kim and Chacha Oceanview’s Dorothy Jebehn (U14 shot put), and Kagman’s Kroy Ogo (U18 shot put).