Geckos reign supreme

Saipan International School’s Oliver McCallion competes in the boys U7’s 800m run during the 2019 Public School System/McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships last Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex. (Jon Perez)

Saipan International School won the overall championship in the boys elementary division of the 2019 Public School System/McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships.

The Geckos’ U7, U9, and U11 students combined for 145 points after competing in six running races and two field events over the weekend at the Oleai Sports Complex. Suiting up for SIS were Dean Duenas, Oliver and Kelley McCallion, Andre Guerrero, William Hasselback, Daniel Kang, Finn Altizer, William Lee, Letrell Pelisamen, and Xavier Lee and they notched several Top 6 finishes in their respective events to hand the Geckos the top honors in the division. SIS defeated Koblerville Elementary School (129 points), San Vicente (101), William S. Reyes (88), and Tinian (63).

William Lee ruled the U11’s 1,500m run with a time of 6:20.07, placed second in the 800m run, and third in the softball throw and 200m run.

In other results in the U11 age group, WSR’s Tyrone Manipon, Saipan Community’s David Ye, and WSR’s Joseph Tesiro took the Top 3 finish in the 60m run. San Vicente’s Christopher Cruz won the gold medal in the 100m run, while Rota’s Ryan Manglona got the silver, and the former’s classmate Brandon Solomon clinched the bronze. Cruz also won the 200m and 400m runs, while Rota’s Victor Barcinas and Manipon were the runners-up. In the long jump, Manipon earned the gold, while Ye and Tesiro bagged the silver and bronze, respectively.

In the U9 age group, Brilliant Star School missed the Top 5 overall, but its student, Moshe Sikkel, clinched four gold medals after prevailing in the 100m, 200, 400m, and 800m. Mt. Carmel School’s Arstin Tagabuel and Tinian’s Jerdon Cruz joined Sikkel in the Top 3 in the 100m run, while Kelley McCallion was the runner-up both in the 400m and 800m races. In the 60m run, Jayson Tagabuel nailed the gold medal and was joined in the podium by Cruz and San Vicente’s Johncel Joaquin.

After his two second place finishes, McCallion finally notched a gold medal when he won the 1,500m run. SIS had a 1-2 finish in the longest race in the competition with Altizer timing in at 7:09.95 against McCallion’s 6:11.43.

In the two field events, Mt. Carmel was awarded the gold, thanks to Arstin Tagabuel’s 3.03 meters in the long jump, while Max Taitano handed Brilliant Star another gold after winning the softball throw (38.39m). Mt. Carmel’s Jayson Tagabuel and San Vicente’s Joaquin got the silver and bronze, respectively, in the softball throw, while WSR’s Austine Aldan and Koblerville’s Tanner McClure joined Arstin Tagabuel in the podium in the long jump.