Three in a row for Mami

Mamiko Oshima-Berger extended her reign in the 5th Marianas Coffee Trail Run.

Oshima-Berger, who won the third and fourth editions of the event in 2010, made it three in a row after becoming the first woman to complete last Saturday’s long course race (20-kilometer) at the 1:46:38 mark. She crossed the finish line at the American Memorial Park more than 11 minutes after overall top finisher and men’s champion Charles Epperson (1:35:26).

“It was a great race, it was cold and the trails were great,” said Oshima-Berger a few minutes after completing the event that brought runners to the wild coffee plantations built during the Japanese colonial era on Saipan and the young coffee groves of sponsor Marianas Coffee Co.

“I intended to run with my dogs, but decided not to at the last minute when I found out there will be some dogs along the course. I don’t want to get in trouble,” added Oshima-Berger, who was with her dog when she did the same race in 2009 and finished 30th overall.

Despite the absence of her pets, Oshima-Berger, who debuted in the Coffee Trail in 2008 and finished fourth, still had a running buddy in the weekend event in Mieko Carey. The XTERRA World veteran finished second behind Oshima-Berger after timing in at 1:56:07. Allen Terra rounded out the Top 3 in the women’s long course, clocking in at 2:13:11.

In the men’s division, Florence Antonio and John Douglas joined the debuting Epperson in the Top 3. Antonio cut the tape at the 1:55:29 mark, while Douglas submitted a 2:05:29.

Other finishers in the long course were Patrick Demapan (2:09:45), Danny Garcia (2:20:07), Jose Quan (2:11:20), Surya Pipit (2:13:12), Natasha Kuckuck (2:13:20), Dawn Hammermeister (2:23:33), Goto Taro (2:23:34), Shogo (2:24:45) and Miwa (2:28:17) Hyakutake, Uasushi Shimizu (2:29:57), Pete Vilaga (2:33:28), Tamio Nishikido (2:33:48), Andrew Johnson (2:51:41), Kaisei Toda (2:51:41), Joshua Berger (2:52:01), Roxie Lamar (2:52:01), Magie Lyn Vicente (3:00:07), Ben Babauta (3:07:50), Mahesh Balakrishna (3:07:50), and Hitoshi Yamaguchi (3:10:11).

Upset in 10K
In the short 10K event, Ronald Villafria dethroned 2010 champion Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel.

Villafria timed in at 50:03, more than six minutes ahead of Kabiriel, who clocked in at 56:45, which was still faster than the latter’s 2010 winning time of 1:00:26.

According to Villafria, he, Kabiriel, and eventual third placer Tom Linden (58:48) had a close race until the former broke away near the Lower Base road.

In the women’s division, Akane Imaya defended her title after beating Wantha Aldrich and Cui Xiangshan. Imaya timed in at 1:13:42, eclipsing her 2010 winning time (1:20:55), while Aldrich and Cui logged 1:21:17 and 1:23:32, respectively.