CNMI bags 12 medals in weightlifting

The Commonwealth, which failed to send a weightlifting team in Palau during the 2010 Micronesian Games, fielded a 10-man squad in Pohnpei for the three-day tournament (July 23 to 25) at the COM-FSM National Gymnasium and got three gold medals, three silvers, and three bronze from the group.

David Barnhouse Jr. led the CNMI Weightlifting Team’s medal rush in the ongoing Micro Games, collecting three gold medals in the men’s 105-kg weight class. He had the best clean and jerk at 110kg to edge the 108 of Yap’s Junior Yoruw. In the best snatch category, Barnhouse listed 112kg to overwhelm Yoruw (85kg). In the total division, Barnhouse was also way ahead of Yoruw, 230-193.

In the 85kg division, Leo Apelo swept the silver medals in the three events. He posted 141kg in the clean and jerk to finish behind the Marshall Islands’ Kabuati Silas Bob (150kg) and beat Yap’s Jason Galam (115kg). In the snatch, Apelo logged 100kg against the 111kg of Bob and 90kg of Galam. Apelo then registered 241kg in the total division for another silver medal finish. Bob clinched the gold with his 261kg, while Galam settled for another bronze with his 205.

Raymond Santos duplicated Apelo’s feat, grabbing three silver medals in the 62kg. Santos logged 123kg in the clean and jerk, losing only by three kilograms to Marshall Islands’ Peter Enoch. Enoch’s teammate Switon Batin Jr. took the bronze with his 100kg lift. In the snatch, Santos recorded 92kg against the 95 of Enoch. Batin had 75kg to finish third anew. In the total category, Santos tallied 212kg for his third silver, while Enoch’s 218kg earned him the third gold in the 62kg weight class.

In the 77kg, Salvi Villanueva nabbed three bronze medals after listing 86kg in the snatch, 115kg in clean and jerk, and 201kg in total. Joining Villanueva, Barnhouse, and Apelo on the CNMI Weightlifting Team were Joseph Jucutan, Jose Quan, Harold Aranda, Roman Palacios, and Enrico Valdez, and John Mario.

With Barnhouse and company adding 12 medals to the CNMI’s collection, Team Marianas’s tally improved to 14-14-4 (gold, silver, bronze) and is aiming for at least three medals with the Commonwealth bets still in the hunt in women’s basketball and two races in canoe competition.

The CNMI is in sixth place in the medal tally as of 6pm yesterday, behind Guam (33-21-7), Marshall Islands (33-20-30), Pohnpei (32-40-21), Palau (29-22-29), and Yap (17-21-14).

Paddlers rule
1,500m race

The CNMI’s paddlers braved the heavy rains last Saturday en route to a gold medal win in the men’s, 1,500m event.

Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel, James Pedro Aldan Jr., Carter Calma, Benusto Olopai, and Joshua Andrew completed the race in the waters off Lidakihka Beach in 7:47.96 to prevail against the quintet of Pohnpei, which submitted 7:48.19. Palau rounded out the Top 3 to make it to the podium with a time of 7:59.71.

In the men’s 500m, Pohnpei was the top finisher at 2:13.19, edging Guam (2:14.57) and Palau (2:21.85). In the women’s division, Palau swept the 1,500m and 500m races with Pohnpei and Kosrae getting the silver and bronze in the middle distance event and Guam and the host completing the Top 3 in the sprint.

Today, paddlers battle for medals in the 15K and 20K races.

Also set for today is the CNMI Men’s Basketball Team’s battle for fifth place match against either Palau or Marshall Islands. The Commonwealth’s cagers failed to advance to the medal round after losing to Kosrae (scores were unavailable) in the playoffs last Saturday.

In the women’s basketball, the CNMI was in must-win situation in its game against the Marshall Islands yesterday. A victory will keep the CNMI cagebelles’ medal hopes alive, as they will make the four-team cut.