Micro Games gold medalists lauded

Beo Ngirchongor, left, races in the 4x100m relay after getting the baton from Orrin Pharmin during the 8th Micronesian Games in Pohnpei last month. (Kurt Barnes)

Leading the list of the July awardees chosen during Northern Marianas Sports Association’s meeting yesterday at the conference room of the Gilbert C. Ada Gym was multiple medalist Rachael Abrams of athletics. Abrams brought home three gold medals from Pohnpei after topping the 200m run in a record-breaking fashion and winning in the 100m hurdles and high jump. She shared the NMSA Female Athlete of the Month with fellow athletics bets Dolores Rangamar and Lia Rangamar. Dolores bagged a gold medal in the discus throw, while her daughter Lia prevailed in the javelin.

Duplicating Abrams three-gold medal haul was Victoria Chentsova, who was selected as the Female Student Athlete of the Month. The Saipan Swim Club swimmer won the gold medal in the 200m, 400, and 800m freestyle races in Pohnpei. She also took a bronze in the 100m freestyle event.

In the men’s division, another track and field star Beo Ngirchongor, led the Male Athlete of the Month award winners. Ngirchongor was picked as one of the awardees for July for ruling the men’s 400m hurdles and 400m run in last month’s Micro Games.

Joinining Ngirchongor on the top awardees list were the CNMI Paddling Team and wrestling’s David Barnhouse Jr. Paddlers Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel, James Pedro Aldan Jr., Carter Calma, Benusto Olopai, and Joshua Andrew triumphed in the 1,500m canoe race at the Lidakihka Beach after clocking in at 7:47.96. The Commonwealth paddlers won against Pohnpei and Palau, which logged 7:48.19 and 7:59.71, respectively.

Barnhouse handed the CNMI three gold medals after his victories in the 105kg’s clean and jerk, snatch, and total divisions.

Meanwhile, NMSA also acknowledged other CNMI medalists in the Micro Games.

The list includes the CNMI Baseball Team, which brought home a silver medal after battling Guam in the finals at the Daini Field. The Commonwealth sluggers lost in the finals, 8-14. The team was composed of Male Student Athlete of the Month Ian Rogolifoi, Joshua Jones, Manny Sablan, Byron Kaipat, Tyrone Omar, Vince Cepeda, Ben Jones Jr, Jerome Delos Santos, Roy Celis, Brian Camacho, Rocco Reyes, Jared Sablan, Diego Camacho, Jun Rabauliman, Peter Lieto, Joe Palacios, Jr., Greg Iskawa, Anthony Benavente, Tom Camacho, Patrick Alepuyo, and Chris Camacho. Tony Rogolifoi was the team manager while Mel Sakisat was the coach.

Also winning silver medals for the CNMI were weightlifters Leo Apelo Jr. and Raymond Santos and athletics’ Friendly Joy Pena, Jaynar White, Zarinae Sapong, Lia Rangamar, Abrams, Jessie James, and Orrin Pharmin. Completing the list of awardees were bronze medalists Salvi Villanueva (weighlifting) and the CNMI Women’s National Team. The women’s squad was composed of Connie Camacho Lia Rangamar, Irish Pagarao, Ira Palero, Lilly Williams, Jamie Mendoza, Teresita Sablan, Rachel Abrams, Madeleine Alegre, Marie Javier, Antonette Labausa, and Michelle Kautz. Elias Rangamar and Preston Basa were the coach and assistant, respectively.