SIS, Agape runners stand out

Agape and Saipan International School students head out to the course during the 2018 Northern Marianas Athletics All Schools Cross Country Series 3 held last Saturday at the Saipan County Club in Chalan Kiya. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Saipan International School and Agape Christian School students dominated the podium in the middle and high school divisions of the 2018 Northern Marianas Athletics All Schools Cross Country Series 3 held last Saturday at the Saipan County Club in Chalan Kiya.

In the girls U18 division, Tania Tan and Stella McCallion gave SIS a 1-2 finish after recording 31:07 and 32:16, respectively, in the up and down course (nearly four miles). Marianas High School’s Therize Millare rounded out the Top 3 after posting 33:54, while four other Agape runners and one each from MHS and SIS completed the finishers’ list.

In the boys U18 age group, which drew 16 runners, Agape’s Kobe Yang was the first placer after checking in at 27:27. Jonathan Xing, also from Agape was ranked second after recording 28:11, while MHS’ Ken Song came in at third following his time of 28:45.

In the U15 division, it was an all-Agape show. Vivian Xu timed in at 27:13 in the nearly three-mile course to beat fellow Agape student Phoebe Chang and Mei Ou, who submitted 27:28 and 28:44, respectively. In the boys event, Agape also had a 1-2-3 finish with Arthur Liang (19:15) coming in at first and followed by Jason Cao (20:29) and Ray Qi (20:59).

Agape had another sweep in the girls U13 division with Jenny Lin (26:47) prevailing against Elvira Zhang (31:52) and Emily Huang (31:51). In the boys field, Agape’s Caleb Dai timed in at 21:18 to win over SIS’ Danny Lee (23:01), and schoolmate Peter Bu (23:54).

In other results, students from four different schools ruled the elementary races.

In the boys U7 division, SIS’s Oliver McCallion was the top finisher after registering 11:57 in the a one-mile course. He won over Brilliant Star School’s Kanoa Owens (12:10), fellow SIS student Finn Altizer (12:18) and 18 other runners in the group. In the girls division, Saipan Community School’s Allie Brasuell (13:16) led the Top 3, which also included SIS’s Maliya Benson (14:30) and the former’s schoolmate Elita Li (17:03).

In the girls U9 age group, Agape’s Barbara Huang, SIS’ Phoenix Gross, and San Vicente’s Abigal made up the Top 3 after clocking in at 11:47, 13:35, and 15:03, respectively. William S. Reyes Elementary School’s Paul Lizama (9:02) won the boys race after recording 9:02 and was joined in the Top 3 by SIS’ Kelly McCallion (9:14) and SCS’ David Xiao (10:04).

Meanwhile, the 2018 NMA All Schools Cross Country Championships will be held this Saturday, also at the Saipan Country Club.