Mamiko, Jack live up to expectations

 Picking the winners in last Saturday’s 2011 Saipan Radar Run was a no-brainer with the island’s top runners Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel and Mamiko Oshima-Berger making it first to the finish line of the weekend event.

Kabiriel ruled the men’s division race after completing the 4.7-mile run in 37 minutes and 32 seconds. Oshima-Berger came in at second overall and first in the women’s division with a time of 38:44.

Though Kabiriel failed to surpass his 2010 winning time (35:23) in the inaugural Saipan Radar Run, he was happy that this time he finished the race.

“In my previous run at the SIS event in Banzai, I wasn’t able to finish due to an asthma attack. It took me a few weeks of rest and medication to go back to my running routine. In the Radar race, I was kind of worried I won’t finish again, so I slowed down a bit going up to the course and only stepped up on my way back to the finish line,” Kabiriel said.

The veteran runner finished only three minutes and 20 seconds ahead of runner-up Ronald Villafria, who also took a break from running and the Radar run was his first in about a year. Chad Lowe completed the Top 3 with a time of 44:26.

In the women’s division, Oshima-Berger this timed topped her race after a bridesmaid finish to good fried, Mieko Carey last year. Oshima-Berger arrived at the finish line at Paupau Beach about 11 minutes ahead of runner-up Kim Young (49:12). Roxie Lamar and Irma Halaby crossed the finish line together and shared third place after submitting identical times of 55:16.

Oshima-Berger ran about nine miles the same morning the Radar race took place and still had enough juice to complete the event.

“It was a beautiful race with the weather nice and a bit cold,” said Oshima-Berger, who eclipsed her 2010 time (39:27).

Other finishers of the race that started and ended at Paupau Beach with runners heading up to Saipan Radar in As Matuis were Joshua Berger (55:20), Mahesh Balakrishna (48:00), Ho Joon Joo (50:51), Walter Yu (57:00), Ben Babauta (55:45), Kaisei Toda (56:41), Jaime Martinez (1:03:46), Matt Burns (57:21), Fred Camacho (52:26), and Max Simian (51:17).

Medals and other gifts were awarded to the Top 3 male and female finishers.

Meanwhile, race organizer Brad Ruszala would like to thank the following for supporting the event: IT&E, Triple J Super Fresh Market, XTERRA Saipan, Taga Inc., Brabu Pharmacy, Fiesta Resort & Spa, Marianas Visitors Authority, MHS Honor Society, and DYS.