Sato, Tan rule JP Glow Run

Runners, joggers, and walkers head out to the course of the 5-kilometer JP Glow Run held last Friday. The race started and ended at the Garapan Fishing Base with a turnaround point at the Quartermaster Road. (Jon Perez)

Kiosk Sato and Tania Tan were the fastest finishers among the more than 1,500 that participated in the JP Glow Run held last Friday.

Sato and Tan were the overall men’s and women’s winners to lead 46 other individuals who finished in the Top 3 of the race that began and ended at the Garapan Fishing Base and commemorated the 10th death anniversary of former Saipan Tribune publisher John “JP” Pangelinan.

A total of 1,534 runners, joggers, and walkers took part in the event—held in cooperation with Tan Siu Lin Foundaiton, TanHoldings, and the Triathlon Association of the CNMI—and proceeds were donated to the 2018 Marianas March Against Cancer.

Sato weaved his way through throngs of participants to complete the 5K race in 19:30, 20 seconds ahead of Agape Christian School student Wang Kai Ping (19:50 ). William Chen, Wang’s teammate at Agape, was the third fastest runner at 20:31.

Tan came in fourth overall and was the top female runner at 20:37, six seconds ahead of Emily Northrop’s 20:43, while Therize Millare came in at third at 20:50.

Leo Li and Jerlyn Castillo were the top age group winners in the men’s and women’s with the two runners claiming the 13-19 division titles. Li posted 20:37, while Castillo had 21:33.

Eun Syu Hahn and Brittany Wally were the 13-19 men’s and women’s runners-up with the former crossing the finish line at 20:43 mark and latter at 23:18. David Cai was the third best in the division at 20:50, while Guinevere Borja duplicated the feat at 23:54.

Jim Maniago led the boys under 12 division finishers at 21:44 , followed by Markus Toves’ 23:36 and Anthony Bergancia’s 24:28. In the girls division, Kaithlyn Chavez clinched the top honors with the best time of 25:24—almost 10 minutes ahead of Aoi Braxton’s 33:27. Aoi’s younger sister Akaya was third at 40:10.

Carl Aldan and Sarah Van de Wal ruled the men’s and women’s 20-29 age group with the former registering 25:24 and the latter recording 24:33. Norman Tangha (29:26) and Maverick Ranola (33:14) joined Aldan in the podium, while Danin Nowliki (26:00) and Deenalyn Crook (34:02) completed the Top 3 in the distaff side.

Marlon Garde (23:54), Jace Fernandez (27:03), and Paquito Dacrepito (27:17) were the Top 3 placers in the male 30-39 age division, while Alyona Gersonde (34:03), former CNMI women’s national tennis team member Kana Aikawa (34:48), and Baby Ben (37:32) were the Top 3 fastest in the women’s category.

Veteran runner Ronald Villafria has the best time in the 40-49 men’s age group at 21:03, followed by Rommel Buenaflor at 22:48 and No. 3 Mamoru Kadokura (25:07). Chiharu Sato was the best in the women’s division with her 25:06, while Akiko Miller (25:54) came in at second and Malou Carlos (30:08) was ranked third.

Rodel Zamudio and Lydia Tan reigned supreme in the men’s and women’s 50-59 age group with times of 22:34 and 28:17, respectively. Mark Isip (23:03) and Rene Gaviola (23:37) finished second and third behind Zamudio, while Amalia Harris (29:47) and Kazuko Sondheim (31:35) joined Tan at the women’s podium in the same age group.

Rolly Verzon showed the way in the men’s over 60 after recording 22:52, while Herman Pangelinan (30:55) and Das Krishnan (34:04) placed second and third, respectively. Fely Garcia (40:37), Jae Bun Na (40:58), and Flor Miranda (41:27) were the Top 3 finishers in the women’s over 60 age group.