CNMI strikes 4 golds in Pohnpei

Men’s U18 100m race gold medal winner and the CNMI’s Jerald Castillo, center, is joined by two Pohnpei runners during the medals presentation in the 2016 Micronesian Athletics Championships yesterday in Pohnpei.
(Contributed Photo)

The CNMI gained four gold medals in the opening day of the 2016 Micronesian Athletics Championships in Pohnpei.

Zarinae Sapong, Jerald Castillo, and Chloe Salvosa delivered the golds for the Commonwealth, which also earned one silver and one bronze in Day 1 of regional competition.

Sapong topped the women’s open 100m run after clocking in at 13.35 seconds. She defeated two Chuuk runners, Maria Carmella Robert and Sinsina Kau, who logged 13.75 and 14.03 seconds, respectively, to settle for the silver and bronze medals. Pohnpei’s Lerissa Henry (14.06 seconds), the Marshall Islands’ Ilania Keju (14.08 seconds), Chuuk’s Milly-Ika-Lady Britt (14.41 seconds), and Pohnpei’s Daimontra Pual (DNF) were the other participants in the sprint race.

Castillo also ran in the 100m event (for men’s U18 division) and ruled both his qualifying heat and the finals. In the finals, the Marianas High School student submitted 11.37 seconds to prevail against Pohnpei’s Mitchell Marrino (11.44 sconds), Jaynar Arnold (11.69 seconds), and Ilaija Dali (11.99 seconds), Chuuk’s Lino Mason (12.06 seconds), and Palau’s Adolph Speng Demei Jr. (12.25 seconds) and Keilan Kenny (12.29 seconds). The CNMI runner was on Heat 2 of the qualifying race and his 11.38 seconds was the best in his group and the entire field of 10 runners.

Castillo’s fellow U18 athletes—Salvosa and Horey—made it to the podium in the javelin and long jump events, respectively. Salvosa recorded 10.21 meters in the javelin throw to rout Pohnpei’s Henry, who registered only 6.77m. In the long jump, the CNMI had a 1-2 finish with Salvosa getting her second gold medal in the tournament after submitting 4.16m and Horey earning her first medal following her 4.06m. Henry was ranked third after posting 3.88m.

Horey also joined the women’s U18 100m run and bagged her second medal after clocking in at 13.85 seconds and placing third behind Palau’s Iesha Umayam (13.04 seconds) and Pohnpei’s Darla Jonah (13.68). Nauru’s Enuwudu Dela Justen (13.87), the CNMI’s Pinyarat Shankweiler (13.98 seconds), Salvosa (14.01), and Chuuk’s Nepeufich Gracel Aunuwa (14.55 seconds) rounded out the field.

Meanwhile, Beo Ngirchongor qualified in the 400m run finals after finishing third in his heat. The Commonwealth runner completed the 400m course in 55.89 seconds and was on Heat 1 along with Chuuk’s Benon Kin (54.44 seconds) and Guam’s Paul Dimalanta (55.50 seconds). Ngirchongor was the sixth and last qualifier in the finals race, which will take place today, and is joined in the medal round by Heat 1 winner and Pohnpei’s Henry Casey (52.10 seconds) and runner-up Matthew Pangelinan (53.56 seconds) and Heat 3 top placer Gwynn Uehera (54.68 seconds) of Palau.

In other results, Ben Jones and the three CNMI bets in the discus throw missed the medal podium. Jones timed in at 11.78 seconds in the 100m qualifying race to place at No. 14—only the Top 7 advanced to the medal round with Palau’s Rodman Teltull eventually ruling the race after logging 10.55 seconds. In the discus, Nick Gross was the best finisher for the CNMI at fifth with his 32.20m throw. Gross’ teammates, Sylvan Rangamar (27.90m) and Daniel Joab (24.99m) were ranked seventh and ninth, respectively, while Guam’s Justin Andre (41.15m) took the gold medal.