Micro Games medalists off to Guam weightlifting tourney

The CNMI’s Raymond Santos competes in the clean and jerk event in the 62-kg weight class of the weightlifting tournament in the 8th Micronesian Games in Pohnpei. (United Youth Media)

Pohnpeii Micronesian Games medalists Ray Santos and Salvi Villanueva will be leading a five-member CNMI team that will be competing in next week’s 2015 Micronesia Weightlifting Invitational in Guam.

Bonny Cruz, Angel San Nicolas, and Joey Tudela will be joining Santos and Villanueva in the one-day tournament set on Dec. 12, Saturday, at The Jungle inside the Father Duenas Memorial School in Mangilao.

The five weightlifters will be competing in their respective weight divisions in the three events, namely, snatch, clean and jerk, and the total.

The Guam Weightlifting Federation, which organized the inaugural tournament with the help of Guam National Olympic Committee president Ric Blas and the GNOC board, invited the quintet.

The Federated States of Micronesia—Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpeii, and Yap—Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Palau were also invited by GWF president Ryan Claros to compete in the event.

“We hope this event will be a great success with the participation and cooperation of our neighboring island brothers and sisters, who are all privileged to promote the sport of weightlifting in the Micronesia Islands,” said Claros in the letter of invitation.

“As we unite as an island community, we hope that our passion for this sport will grow and open doors for our athletes and federations within our region and the world,” he added.

Santos, who went home with three silver medals in the 62-kilogram division in the 2014 Micro Games, will be competing either in the same weight class or in the 69kg.

In last year’s Micro Games, Santos placed second behind Peter Enoch of the Marshall Islands. Switon Batin Jr., Enoch’s teammate, took the bronze.

Santos had a lift of 92kg in the snatch then had 123kg in the clean and jerk for 215kg. total. Enoch had lifts of 95kg (snatch) and 126kg (clean and jerk) for 221kg total.

Villanueva, on the other hand, bagged the bronze medals in the 77kg with a total lift of 201kg behind an 86kg snatch and a 115kg clean and jerk.

The Northern Marianas College External Relations Office employee is also fresh from clinching the silver in the 4th Marianas Trench Throwdown held last October at the Chmaorri CrossFit in Tamuning.

Villanueva, who collected 1,425 points against the 1,450 of eventual champion Airman Alex Johnson, is entered in the same division in the GWF-organized tournament.

Cruz, like Santos, will either compete in the 69kg or 77kg weight class, while San Nicolas will see action in the 94kg division and Tudela in the 85kg.

Villanueva, who at times trained with Cruz or by himself, said that Santos and Cruz would have to cut weight if they decide to compete in the lower weight classes.

Villanueva is also planning to compete, along with Tudela and Nicole Harkness, in another CrossFit event in January this time organized by CrossFit Latte Stone.