Sendin repeats, Hutchison wins

Charlie Sendin successfully defended his men’s title, while a new queen reigned in the women’s side of Saturday’s 8th Annual Marianas Coffee Trail Run.

Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Perry Tenorio, left, and Marianas Coffee Co. owner Chuck Jordan, fourth right, join some of the runners who participated in the 20-kilometer division of last Saturday’s 8th Annual Coffee Trail Run. (Jon Perez)

Sendin, who failed to attend the afternoon awards banquet due to his work schedule, was the fastest among the 47 runners. They braved the early morning rains and treacherous 20-kilometer course that started and ended at the American Memorial Park in Garapan and brought participants around the trail of Mt. Tapochao.

The 33-year-old completed the long course that included the coffee plantations in Navy Hill in 1:48:04, which was 20 seconds faster than his last year’s winning time of 1:48:24.

Lorie Hutchison, meanwhile, was crowned the new queen of the annual race and in the process shave more than two minutes of Mamiko Oshima-Berger’s 2014 time (2:13:33) by clocking 2:11:11. She also broke her time (2:20:00) last year where she finished second behind Oshima-Berger, who skipped this year’s edition of the race.

Veteran runner Ronald Villafria, who ran his first race after an almost two-year absence, came in second in the men’s division with a time of 2:04:00, while Northern Mariana Athletics product Seiya Eda was third (2:07:22).

Kimiko McKagan recorded the second best time in the women’s side at 2:16:23, while Maki Narita finished third with 2:22:20. Their times were better than the 2:24:28 recorded by last year’s third placer Pipit Ball.

Steven Johnson (male 19-29, 2:07:23); Oliver Santiago (male 30-39, 2:34:18); Tyce Mister (male 40-49, 2:09:07); Paul Sungmo Khang (male 50-up, 2:35:46); and Yumiko Mizuno (female 30-39, 2:53:16) were the age group finishers in the 20K course.

Meanwhile, in the short 10-kilometer course, which drew 21 runners, Keith Longuski is slowly carving his name in the island’s running events after ruling the male division with his 48:06. Jennifer Cui equaled his feat in the female division after logging 1:06:11.

Cooper Schraudenbach (57:03) and Terra Allen (1:07:25) were the second best male and female 10K runners, while Jack Kabiriel (57:57) and Sakiko Eda (1:08:20) finished third.

Ken Song (male U18, 1:04:31); Derek Leung (male 19-29, 1:00:22); Joseph Villacrusis (male 30-39, 1:12:37); Goshi Sato (male 40-49, 1:01:14); Steven Pixley (male 50-up, 1:06:46); Kaitlin Mattos (female 19-29, 1:13:35); Neda Farzan (female 30-39, 1:13:08); Wantha Aldrich (female 40-49, 1:23:55); and Margaret Rose (female 50-up, 1:15:13) were the top age group finishers.

In related news, Marianas Coffee Co. owner Chuck Jordan said that with the Marianas Visitors Authority’s help and various sponsors they plan to have a bigger event in 2016.

MCC, MVA, KFC Triathlon Club of Japan, and Team PDI were the main sponsors of the race, while Hyatt Regency Saipan, Aqua Resort Club, Saipan World Resort, Yano Enterprises Inc., Kinpachi Restaurant, Avis Saipan, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, and Hyatt Regency Saipan donated the raffle prizes.

Organizers also thanked the Department of Public Safety and the Division of Parks and Recreation for their assistance.