CNMI men top Oceania Masters Championships

The CNMI’s James Lee is seen leaping into the air during his long jump attempt and won three gold medals in the Oceania Athletics Masters Championships at the Oleai Sports Complex.(LEIGH GASES)

The CNMI’s older athletes marched to the Oleai Sports Complex track and field for a chance to represent their islands and prove that they can still run, jump, and throw in the Oceania Athletics Masters Championships held from June 22 to 26.

They went out with a bang as almost all CNMI athletes had a podium finish in their respective events.

In the men’s events, James Lee hauled in three gold medals in his stint. He claimed gold in the 40-year-old age group 60m with a 8.67 seconds sprint; the CNMI’s Steven Beyer won silver with 8.98 seconds; third was Samoa’s Sam Chong at 9.44 seconds; and fourth went to the CNMI’s Micah Page at 10.30 seconds.

Lee topped the 100m at 13.72 seconds; Beyer got silver with 14.81 seconds; and third was Page at 17.30 seconds

Lee was the lone participant in the long jump for gold with a 4.08m jump and placed in the shot put with a 8.33m throw.

Orrin Pharmin also collected three gold medals as he sprinted the fastest in the 35-year-old age group in the 60m at 8.03 seconds; silver went to the Marshall Islands’ Kevin Harkey at 9.35 seconds; and third place went to CNMI’s Kelvin Fitial at 12.19 seconds.

Pharmin won gold in the 100m at 13.14 seconds and silver went to Harkey at 16.07 seconds. He also won gold in the 200m as the lone participant at 26.97 seconds.

Tony Ichiuo mirrored Lee and Pharmin with three gold medals of his own. He was the lone participant for the 55-year-old age group in the 60m at 9.54 seconds.

He won gold in the shot put 8.93m and silver went to Papua New Guinea’s Brett Green at 8.29m. He completed his haul with a gold in the discus throw at 30.84m; silver went to Green at 23.91m; and bronze went to Phillip at 23.04m

CNMI’s Orrin Pharmin, left, and Angel San Nicolas race to the finish line in the Oceania Athletics Masters Championship at the Oleai Sports Complex.(LEIGH GASES)

Angel San Nicolas had five gold medals as the lone participant in the 30-year-old age group in the discus, shot put, hammer, and javelin throws.

Daniel Joab had three gold medals himself in the 45 age group shot put at 10.61m and silver went to the CNMI’s Greg Borja at 6.58m.

Joab won gold in the hammer throw at 21.68m; silver went to the CNMI’s Leo Wania at 16.41m; and CNMI’s Greg Iginoef got bronze at 14.15m. Joab was the lone participant in the discus throw for gold at 27.68m

Nick Gross of the 40-year-old age group won one gold in the discus throw at 29.69m and one bronze in the shot put at 9.34m.

Greg Borja took home two gold medals and one silver in his 45 age group. He was the lone participant in the 60m at 9.53 seconds. He then won gold in the long jump at 3.81m; Wania won silver at 3.64m; and CNMI’s Jess Gariguez won bronze at 2.76m.

Anthony Borja, in the 40 age group. won one gold and one bronze. He got gold in the shot put at 11.15m and bronze in the discus throw at 27.01.

Kelvin Fitial won one gold and silver in his 35 age group. He took the top spot in the shot put at 10.69m; Micronesia’s Joseph Dabana won silver at 9.63m; and bronze was won by Pharmin at 7.69m.

He took home silver in the discus throw at 25.53m. Gold went to Dabana at 30.58m.

Eptes Epity won one gold in the 50 age group shot put throw at 9.23m; Wania won one gold in the 45 age group 200m race at 33.73 seconds and won two silver medals.

Manolo Sitchon won six silver medals in his 65-year-old age group. He was second in the half marathon, shot put, discus, hammer throw, weight throw, and throws.