Koreans set fastest time in TRAC race

Korea A members pose with their medals at the Banzai Cliff “postcard” during the awards ceremony for the TRAC Summer Sportsfest last Sunday in Marpi. (Contributed Photo)

Visiting athletes from Korean Triathlon Federation proved their mettle in the TRAC Summer Sportsfest after recording the Top 2 best times in last Sunday’s competition Marpi.

Korea A’s Song Sik Kim, Hee Chang Kang, and Kwang Jun Park completed the 1.5-kilometer swim leg, 40K bike, and 10K run in 2:24:19 to post the fastest time in the entire field en route to a first place finish in the mixed relay division.

Another Korean trio—Ji Hyun Kim, Sol Ji Om, and Cha Hee Pyeon of Korean C—capped the race in 2:27:32 for the second best time in the tournament and in the mixed relay division. A third Korean team composed of Nam Gi Hyeon, Sang Min Park, and Woo Sik Jeong also joined the mixed relay field, but was disqualified after getting lost along the bike course.

Korea A and C triathletes, who are on Saipan to train and prepare for a series of tournaments back home, defeated Goat Rodeo, Team Rota, and Team Tinian. Neda Farzan and Jeremy and Claire Devey raced for Goat Rodeo and timed in at 2:42:48. CNMI national swimmer and Saipan Swim Club graduate Victoria Chentsova led Team Rota, joining forces with Andrew Estepa and Jester Antonio and clocking in at 2:45:40. Taiyo Akimaru, also of SSC, Vernice Ronda, and Jayce Qin made up Team Tinian and they submitted 2:53:42.

Meanwhile, Tem Kehoje and Von Drian Libayan won the men’s team and solo divisions, respectively.

Libayan completed the individual race in 2:31:51 to prevail against Florence Antonio (2:45:50), Nap Dizon (2:44:48), Angel Tan (3:11:05), and Manny Sitchon (3:14:40).

In the men’s team event, Kento Akimaru worked together with Homer Castro and Jessie Miclat to beat four other squads. Akimaru and company recorded 2:31:50 to win against Team Paupau (2:32:27), Team LBC (2:39:27), D Weakest Link (2:42:L23), and Team Saipan (3:04:02).

In other results of the Track Summer Sportsfest, Cesar Danap and Sakiko Eda reigned supreme in the 10K run.

Danao finished the race from Mariana Resort to Last Command Post, around the Veterans Memorial, Powerade Station 4 at Banzai Cliff, and back to Mariana Resort in 44:48. He was the lone competitor in the men’s field to complete the 10K run under 50 minutes. Runner-up Teng Tacras and third finisher Roland Libayan clocked in at 52:03 and 55:12, respectively.

Other finishers in the men’s division were Alex Litimco (55:28) Haruya Eda (56:50), Rommel Bartolo (56:59), Edcar Villamin (58:27), Daniel Marzan (1:03:10), Ben Babauta (1:03:11), Alfredo Acosta (1:12:12), and Ambet Omampo (1:12:50).

In the women’s field, Sakiko Eda’s 47:14 bested the 1:09:16 and 1:18:42 of Rowena Sison and Marie Babauta, respectively.