Mancao, Sapong shine as All Schools start

  CNMI national track and field members Michael Mancao and Reylyn Sapong led the winners in Day 1 of the PSS/McDonald’s 9th Annual All Schools Track and Field Championships held Thusrday at the Oleai Sports Complex.

Both Marianas High School students topped their respective boys and girls 18-and-under 800m races with Mancao burning rubber in a time of 2.06.65.

The younger brother of CNMI veteran runner Matthew Mancao went full speed ahead in the race’s last 100m to outclass his closest pursuer Beouch Ngirchongor, also of MHS, who finished second with a time of 2:14.91.

Third place went to another MHS runner, as Charles Bautista completed the Dolphins’ sweep of the age group by clocking in at 2.18.24.

Sapong, meanwhile, allowed Tinian High School’s Mary Grace Atalig to lead in the first half of their race before hitting her stride in the final 300m to win in 2.59.14. Atalig came in second in 3.09.47, while Saipan Southern High School’s April Indalecio was third in 3.16.30.

In the boys U14, Tinian Junior High School’s Joseph Lizama rocketed past favorites Elnathan Wong and Dylan Ackerman, both of Saipan Community School, to win the 800m race.

Lizama finished in a time of 2.32.97 against Wong and Ackerman’s 2.33.44 and 2.37.16, respectively.

In the girls U14, defending champion Gabrielle Race reasserted her supremacy in the 800m by turning back the challenge of Neysha Balbin.

Race crossed the finish line in 2.53.21 against Balbin’s 2.56.90. The latter reportedly is being trained by Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel. Panida Eitz completed the Top 3 with a time of 3.13.23.

William S. Reyes Elementary School had a 1-2 finish in the boys 12U 800m race with Joseph Liberato and Ryan Relucio checking in at 2.38.93 and 2.43.36. Garapan Elementary School’s J.J. Jones came in third at 2.48.30.

Whispering Palms School’s Negahr Rastguiy, meanwhile, momentarily traded her tennis racquet for a pair of running shoes and won the girls U12 800m race in a time of 2.57.67.

Saipan International School’s Julia Ishikawa (3.08.39) and Dandan Elementary School’s Liana Depich (3.10.08) settled for second and third places.

In the boys U10, Naoki Asai took home first place in the 800m with a time of 2.58.31, followed by Albert Attan of Garapan (3.02.50) and K.C. Figeroa of Koblerville Elementary School (3.09.37).

The girls U10 800m saw Koblerville’s Tyvie They finishing first in 3.01.48 ahead of Garapan teammates Ayana Tengco (3.19.50) and Rane Ben (3.22.65).

SIS’ Rintaro Miyawaki sprinted across the finish line to claim first place in the boys U8 800m. His time of 3.10.53 bested WPS’ Kaden Church’s 3.23.32 and Koblerville’s R-Hennes Shoreys 3.36.58.

The girls U8, meanwhile, was a two-person race with Sheena Rejano of Koblerville finishing on top in 3.40.76, while Dandan Elementary School’s Neiyahni Benavente came in second in 4.36.29.

In the longer 1,500m race, Joseph Liberato collected his second win of the day in the U12 division. The WSR student won the 1,500m in a time of 5.46.00. J.J. Jones was second in 6.14.52, while Carl Gaetos of Oleai Elementary School was third in 6.22.41.

Negahr Rastguiy also triumphed in her second race of the day, finishing the girls U12 1,500m in 6.27.42. She was followed by SIS’ Julia Ishikawa (6.43.58) and Oleai’s Jennifer “Kate” Perena (6.48.18).

WPS’ Nokai Kasai and Logan Mister came in 1-2 in the U10 boys, completing the 1,500m in 6.00.20 and 6.06.59. Albert Atan of Garapan came in third in 6.24.02.

In the girls U10, Ayana Tengco won for Garapan in a time of 6.42.08 with Malika Miyawaki and Catherine Atalig, both of SIS, coming in second in third in 7.16.61 and 7.19.35, respectively.

It was 2-for-2 for the day for Rintaro Miyawaki of SIS as he won the U8 1,500m in 6.28.65. Kaden Church of WPS was second (7.08.76) and Taka Borja third (7.16.24).

Soleil Lamar of Brilliant Star, for her part, took the tape in the U8 girls 1,500m with a time of 7.20.39.

The shorter 60m race was a breeze for Jim Lacsina as the MHS standout finished first in the boys U18 with a time of 7.15, followed by Saipan Southern’s Nevin Salem (7.36) and MHS’ Tanner Kenty (7.70).

MHS’ Rachel Abrams dominated the girls U18 race (7.90) with teammates Reylyn Sapong (8.34) and Joy Pena (8.64) in hot pursuit.

In the boys U14, Hopwood Junior High School swept the podium with Christian Morales (7.61), Edgem Bedania (7.72), and Dennis Norita (7.83) finishing 1-2-3.

It was also nearly a sweep for Hopwood in the girls U14 also, as Riella Ichiuo and Panida Eitz finished 1-2 with times of 8.70 and 9.38, respectively. SIS’ Christina Kim was third in 9.61.

The boys U12 had Carlos Tapulei winning in 8.16 followed by Garapan’s Aiferson Atan (8.37) and Oleai’s Jericho Jonathan (8.54).

WSR’s Chloe Sakisat was without peer in the U12 girls winning the 60m in 8.61. Koblerville’s Christine Pude was second in 8.85 with San Antonio Elementary School’s ChevyKate Alipio third in 9.12.

Saipan Community School finally won a race when Eddie Cho won the boys U10 60m in 9.01. Garapan’s Arson Menchor and WSR’s Glenn Matalog finished second and third with times of 9.20 and 9.28, respectively.

WSR’s Magthalina Asebuu won the girls U10 after crossing the finish line in 9.34 with Stephanie Rejano (10.08) of Koblerville and Britney Espinosa (10.46) of Dandan coming in second and third.

Jae Won Han gave SCS its second first place finish of the day when he won the boys U8 (10.07). Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School’s Seijo Gonzales (10.25) and Kagman Elementary School’s Justin Agulto finished runners-up.

GTC’s Barbara Peteru was No. 1 in the girls U8, completing the 60m in 10.30. Oleai’s Nicko Rasiang was second in 10.53, while Kagman’s Britney Adolfo was third in 10.90.

The organizing Northern Marianas Athletics held a simple opening ceremony to start the competition with all 18 participating schools taking part in a parade of teams on the track.

NMA chief, Rep. Ramon Tebuteb (R-Saipan), thanked all schools taking part in the sporting event as well as the students’ parents.

NMA also gave a posthumous plaque of recognition to the late Capt. Edwin Johnson for his contributions to the sport of athletics. Johnson, Tebuteb said, was a former president of the athletics association and also always lent his hand to NMA whenever it had competitions. Receiving the plaque was the late sportsman’s daughter, Melody.