Gecko 5000 invites open runners

The Saipan International School track and field team and other running enthusiasts held a test run for the Gecko 5000 in Marpi yesterday. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

This year marks the debut of the open category for Saipan International School’s Gecko 5000 and organizers are inviting cross country enthusiasts to join this Saturday’s race.

“Prior to this, the Gecko 5000 was a XC High School Invitational but we opened up a fun run section for the SIS community in 2019. This year, Northern Marianas Athletics asked us to include an open category. We have put it in place but we have separated out the different divisions in order to limit exposure of students to those outside of their cohorts,” said SIS headmaster Ron Snyder.

Since it’s the first year of the open category, entries for the division are coming in trickles, according to Snyder, who also serves as NMA’s distance running coach.

“So far, we only have 12 signed up in the open category but I hope that our numbers increase this week. In the other divisions, we have 160 people in total signed up. I expect we will have around 200 people in total in six different categories,” he said.

The open division cross country run will have a 5K distance for women and an 8K distance for men. It will serve as qualifier No. 1 for NMA’s open cross country series.

The Gecko 5000, which is named after school’s mascot and the distance of the race which is 5,000m, will start bright and early 6am at the Last Command Post with the finish line at Banzai Cliff. It will have four divisions—the 1-mile 12U for elementary students, the 2-mile 14U for middle school students, the 5-kilomterer 18U for high school students, and the 5K run for all runners. The 12U division starts at 6:30am, the 14U at 6:40am, and the 18U and open division at 6:50am. The open cross country division also starts at 6:50am.

Snyder also assured everyone that Gecko 5000 organizers have taken all the precautions to make everyone safe during this time of COVID-19.

“We have to plan extra time to take temperature checks and all school-level sports this year are requiring COVID-19 vaccination to those eligible. All volunteers and coaches must also be vaccinated. We have spread out the start times to decrease intermingling. But, of all the sports, cross country is probably the easiest to plan for COVID-19 measures. We are outside in the sun spread out over large distances and body contact is very limited.”

Runners should expect a course with very slight hills and asphalt, coral, and grass paths. Water station as well as refreshments will be available at the finish line in Banzai Cliff.

Check-in time is 6am at the Last Command Post and entry fee is free save for the $15 open runners and open cross country runners need to fork out. For more information, contact Snyder at r.snyder@sissaipan.net.