Saipan runners show way in 10K

Keith Longuski gestures as he cuts the tape en route to a first place finish in the 10K event of last Saturday’s 2016 Saipan Marathon. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Keith Longuski led the list of Saipan runners who topped their respective divisions in the 10K course of last Saturday’s 2016 Saipan Marathon.

Longuski, who has been winning middle distance races on island for the last two years, was the first overall finisher in the 10K event, completing the run from American Memorial Park to Char Store (in Beach Road near the Saipan Mayor’s Office) and back to the starting line in 37:43. He was the only 10K runner to break the 40-minute barrier and his time eclipsed the 40:17 recorded by 2015 winner Izuru Nakashima of Japan.

Longuski, who debuted in the annual event, won the 10K by more than two minutes against South Korea’s Sangkuk Ye (40:02). Japan’s Yukihiro Okada (40:07), Kenichi Ogawa (40:57), and Kenji Morimoto (42:44) and South Korea’s Taehun Kim (42:48) joined Longuski and Ye in the Top 6 overall rankings in the men’s division.

In the women’s field, Tomoe Yokoyama had a repeat after clocking 43:00. The Japanese ruled the same event last year with a faster time of 42:18.

Two Saipan runners made it to the Top 6 in the women’s division with 13-year-old Conatsu Kaga placing second with her time of 45:15 and Pipit Ball ranked sixth after checking in at 50:31. Japan’s Yukiko Inaba (48:10) and Shiho Fujimaru (49:56) and South Korea’s Kim So Young (49:35) rounded out the Top 6, who received awards and cash prizes during the banquet at Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan’s beach side.

Conatsu’s young sister, Coume, and their mother, Ayumi, were also recognized at the awards ceremony as they were among the five Saipan runners who topped their age group races. Coume reigned supreme in the girls U14 division after timing in at 52:47, while Ayumi had a better time at 51:04 to prevail in the women’s 40 to 49 age group. This was the second straight year that the Kagas won their respective age groups.

Other age group top finishers in the women’s divisions were China’s Xile Lyu (1:00:53/15 to 19) and Ziyan Liu (56:34/20 to 29), Saipan’s Ayana Braxton (53:26/30 to 39), and Japan’s Chiho Kotani (51:48/50 to 59) and Kazue Yamada (1:00:51/over 60).

In the men’s division, Saipan’s Rintaro Miyawaki claimed first place in the U14 age group after logging 44:23, while his fellow Saipan Swim Club member David Boyer ruled the 15 to 19 division with a time of 56:20. Kosuke Sato was the third Saipan runner to win his age group (40 to 49) after making it to the finish line at the 45:27 mark.

South Korea’s Lin Dongju (44:05) and Japan’s Katsuhiko Mizuno (47:30), Kenzo Kashizume (50:07), and Sakae Sato (50:20) completed the age group top finishers list after winning in the 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 50 to 59, and over 50 divisions, respectively.