Yvonne shatters records in Samoa

CNMI sprinter Yvonne Bennett had record runs in the 2011 Oceania Regional Championships in Apia, Samoa.

Bennett timed in at 12.52 seconds in the qualifying heat for the 100m run last Tuesday (Wednesday on Saipan) at Apia Park to crush both the CNMI and Micronesian records, which she both owned. The Commonwealth sprinter clocked in at 12.68 seconds in the 100m run in the 2010 Micronesian Games in Palau, setting new CNMI national and Micronesian marks.

The Boise State University track and field team member placed second in the qualifying heat behind Australia’s Madeleine Powell (12.28 seconds), beat two tough Papua New Guinea runners, and advanced to the finals. Ten runners joined the race and only eight made it to the finals.

In the finals, Bennett dropped to third overall and second in the junior division after completing the race in 12.59 seconds, just a second behind second placer and PNG’s Helen Philemon (12.58 seconds). Philemon submitted 12.66 seconds in the qualifier and lost to Bennett. Powell ruled the event with a slower time (12.34 seconds) than her preliminary clocking.

In the second day of the tournament last Wednesday (Thursday on Saipan), the 21-year-old Bennett had another record-breaking run in 200m race. She logged in at 25.67 seconds, eclipsing both the CNMI and Micronesian records (26.41 seconds), which she also posted in Palau last year during the Micro Games.

Micronesia’s fastest woman placed second in the qualifying heat behind PNG’s Vanessa Waro (25.50 seconds) and finished ahead of nine other runners. She marched into the finals, which was scheduled last night.

Bennett is one of the four CNMI athletes competing in the Oceania championship. The list also includes Sylvan Rangamar, Ryan Ichihara, and Clayton Kenty. The three male athletes left Saipan for Samoa last Friday, while Bennett came all the way from Boise, Idaho and traveled alone to the host country.

Ichihara competed in the 100m race and missed the finals by only two notches. He timed in at 11.96 seconds to finish ninth in the field. Only seven runners advanced to the finals. PNG’s Kupun Wisil topped both the heat and finals with similar times of 10.96 seconds.

Ichihara also ran in the 200m race and this time he qualified in the finals after posting 24.60 seconds (seventh best).

Kenty participated n the men’s 400m hurdles last Wednesday and finished third in the junior division and sixth overall with a time of 61.28 seconds. Rangamar also had his first event in the second day of the competition and came in at fifth in the discus throw after recording 31.15 meters.