‘Champi’ pushes back cross-country race

Northern Marianas Athletics pushed back the schedule of its four-leg All Schools Cross Country race due to Tropical Storm Champi, which is set to hit the CNMI this weekend.

Students who will join the 2015 All Schools Cross Country race series will have to wait for one more week after Northern Marianas Athletics pushed back the first leg of the annual racing event.
(Jon Perez)

“With the anticipated arrival of Tropical Storm Champi this weekend, the [NMA] would like to inform all schools participating in this weekend’s cross country meet that the event will be postponed and moved the following weekend,” said NMA official Elias Rangamar.

The first leg of the annual race is set for tomorrow but is now rescheduled to next Saturday, Oct. 24 at 4pm. All the four races will also be at the Commonwealth Ports Authority Airport Field.

The second leg will be on Oct. 31 at 7am, while the Nov. 7 and 14 races will both be at 4pm.

The annual racing event will have six age groups, in boys and girls divisions—Under-7, U9, U11, U13, U15, and U18. NMA has modified the age groups to be in line with the new grade level used by the Public School System.

Registration for the event is free but students still need to sign up to be allowed to participate and must present a waiver upon joining. Each participating school can enter as many students in each age group.

Elementary students will run 1 mile (1.6 kilometers), middle schoolers 2.1 miles (3.3K) and high school level participants 3.2 miles (5.1K).

Last year long distance runner Seiya Eda and multi-sport athlete Gabrielle Race ruled their respective divisions in the U18 class, while Agape Christian School and Saipan Community School each clinched four team trophies.

Nathaniel Lim and Lyka Sally (boys and girls U14), Ken Song and Carol Lee (boys and girls U12), Kaden Church and Victoria Jade Torres (boys and girls U10), and Robert Decourtney and Kylie Sablan (boys and girls U8) were the other age group winners.

Medals were given to the Top 3 finishers in each category while all participants received ribbons.

A total of 117 runners from San Vicente Elementary School, Agape Christian School, Saipan Community School, Whispering Palms School, Mt. Carmel School, Marianas High School, Saipan Southern High School, William S. Reyes Elementary School, Hopwood Junior High School, and Dandan Middle School joined last year’s race.

The NMA is also going to hold two more racing events before the year ends, the Mt. Tapochao Turkey Trot in November and the Christmas Island Relay in December.