CNMI tracksters exceed expectations

The CNMI’s triumph in the 2011 Oceania Regional Championships in Apia, Samoa proved that the Commonwealth is no longer a pushover in the group.

The four-member CNMI Team won one gold medal and four bronze in the regional competition late last month, holding its own against 20 other participating nations. The squad was composed of Yvonne Bennett, Ryan Ichihara, Clayton Kenty, and Sylvan Rangamar. NMA secretary Robin Sapong and coach Ron Olopai accompanied the lean CNMI delegation.

“I think the team exceeded expectations considering it was a small squad,” said Northern Marianas Athletics development coach Elias Rangamar.

Bennett gave the Commonwealth its lone gold in the competition when she topped the 400m run. She also set CNMI and Micronesian marks in the 100m and 200m races and clinched bronze medals in the two sprint events. Ichihara claimed a bronze medal in the long jump, while Kenty did the same in the 110m hurdles.

“Yvonne’s performance was remarkable as she made it to the finals three times and won medals in these events. Ryan (Ichihara) had personal best times in 100m and 200m sprints, so did Clayton (Kenty). Sylvan (Rangamar) did his season-best throw in discus. Ryan didn’t fair too well in the long jump because the 200m sprints and long jump was scheduled at the same time so he couldn’t quite get his timing and rhythm after his 200m run,” Rangamar said. “

“Overall, the team did very well. Gone are the days when we went to these trips for experience. Team Marianas is now expected to compete and win at this level. It is a mindset that we have to embrace,” he added.

The CNMI is expected to deliver more significant performances this year as NMA is scheduled to compete in a few more tournaments before the season ends.

One of them is the 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships in Athletics in Lille, France with Reylynn Sapong representing the CNMI. Sapong left Saipan last Sunday to compete in the 100m race of the prestigious event that will run from July 6 to 10 at the 18,500-seater Stadium Lille Metropole-Villeneuve d’Ascq.

After the tournament in France, NMA will also send one athlete to the 13th World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea. The competition is scheduled to take place from Aug. 27 to Sept. 4. NMA has yet to decide its representative in the tournament.

The 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia will start on the same date the world championships in Korea will begin and NMA will have a three-athlete delegation in Douglas Dillay, Rachel Abrams, and Trevor Ogumoro.

Last Sunday, NMA sent Mamiko Oshima-Berger to the 2011 Gold Coast Airport Marathon and the 41-year-old runner was one of the 4,548 finishers in the annual event after clocking in three hours, 53 minutes, and 30 seconds.