SCS, San Vicente runners excel

San Vicente Elementary School students, in yellow tops, lead a group of runners heading out to the course during the first leg of Northern Marianas Athletics’ 2016 All Schools Cross Country Series held last Saturday at the CPA Airport Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Saipan Community School and San Vicente Elementary School recorded top finishes in the elementary division races in the first leg of Northern Marianas Athletics’ 2016 All Schools Cross Country Series held last Saturday at the CPA Airport Field.

SCS won three categories, sweeping the girls U7, U9, and U11 age groups, while San Vicente prevailed in the boys U7 and U9 divisions.

In the girls U7 age group, SCS’ You Na Lin’s 10:15 in the one-lap course (nearly one mile) bested the times of 10 other runners. Lin defeated Saipan International School’s Phoenix Gross (11:10) and San Vicente’s Madison Dela Rosa (11:24). Other finishers in the division were Agape Christian School’s Sarah Jiang (11:39), XinYu Yang (11:42), and Xiao Jie Yang (12:17), San Vicente’s Alexis Taitingfong (11:53), Billie Pangelinan (12:08), Frantaysha Robert (12:48), and Shalane Masga (13:34) and SCS’ Hannah Li (14:40).

In the girls U9 division, Hilah Bacani and Abbie Kim gave SCS a 1-2 finish with the former clocking in at 8:47 to rule the group and the latter posting 11:07. Mt. Carmel School’s Donica Atalig rounded out the Top 3 with her 11:37.

Joining Bacani, Kim, and Atalig in the Top 10 were San Vicente’s Karmeann Cabrera (11:46), Rhiettazayne Mendiola (12:09), and Jeyanne Crisostomo (12:16), Agape’s Mary Fu (13:36), Mt. Carmel’s Davina Chae (14:13), SCS’ Fiona Kim (14:18), and San Vicente’s Brynae Sablan (14:31). Six other runners finished the one-lap course.

In the girls U11 age group, there were only 10 runners with SCS’ Hana Oijima leading the finishers list after checking in at 8:24. SCS occupied the Top 5 in the division with Katie Choi ranked second with her 8:36, and followed by Anika Camacho (9:37), Chloie Seo (9:40), and Michelle Ryu (9:59). San Vicente’s Summer Manahane (11:22), Emeling Mendiola (11:53), Rebecca Xuan Shen (14:43), and Chelsea Lorenzo (15:46) and Agape’s Lyn Zhao (13:46) rounded out the finishers.

Meanwhile, in the boys division, San Vicente’s Vincent Albert Palacios and Kian Helgen topped the U7 and U9 age groups, respectively.

Palacios’ 7:39 was more than a minute ahead of fellow San Vicente student Kymo Porros (8:41). The Canaries had a Top 4 finish in the division with Chase Agulto placing third with his 9:33 and Seth Sablan coming in at fourth after registering 10:52. SCS’s Richard Zhao (10:54), MCS’ Arston Tagabuel (12:18), Agape’s Jason Xie (12:23), MCS’ Keanu Silva (13:56), San Vicente’s Eloy Deleon Guerrero (15:00), and Agape’s Tiger Guo (17:15) completed the Top 10.

In the boys U9, Helgen (8:13) led San Vicente’s 1-2-3 finish, as he beat schoolmates Bryce Royal (8:44) and Nicholas Taisacan (8:49). Thirteen other runners joined the division.

In the boys U11, Dandan Middle School’s lone entry—Ron Muna—was the top finisher and runner with the best time in the entire elementary division. He cut the tape at the 7:22 mark to place away ahead of Agape’s Jack Xue (10:15) and San Vicente’s Aizeah Hocog (10:17).

Series 2 in Susupe
NMA will hold the second leg of the cross country series this Saturday at the Civic Center Basketball Court in Susupe.

Races will start at 7am with elementary runners heading out to the course first.

The third leg will return to the CPA Airport Field and will take place on Oct. 22. The finale will also be held at the airport field on Nov. 5.