SIS dominates cross country finale

Middle school and high school runners head out to the course during Northern Marianas Athletics’ 2016 All Schools Cross Country Championships held last Saturday at the Laolao Bay Golf and Resort. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Runners from Agape Christian School wearing red shirts may have flooded the starting line of the Northern Marianas Athletics’ 2016 All Schools Cross Country Championships, but at the finish line, Saipan International School students in blue shirts were the stars.

The Geckos won four of the six divisions in the middle and high school categories of the All Schools finale held last Saturday at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort.

Isabel Dickinson, who topped the first four preliminary races that took place at the CPA Airport Field, capped her domination in the girls U18 division after beating 13 other runners in the 3.5-kilometer run. Dickinson finished the one-lap race in 12:35 to prevail against 12 Agape runners and her fellow SIS student Tiajavika Salas. Agape’s Ella Zhang (14:10) and Daisy Yang (14:49) rounded out the Top 3.

In the U15 division, the Geckos had a sweep with Annika Snyder winning the girls field and Clayton Izuka prevailing in the boys category. Snyder timed in at 13:14 to place first and SIS had a 1-2 finish in the girls U15 as Tania Tan posted the field’s second best time of 14:13. Agape’s Annie Wang completed the Top 3 after submitting 19:02. In the boys division, Izuka had the second fastest time overall with his 10:38 to place ahead of 22 other runners, including 17 from Agape. The Torchbearerss’ Xiong Lue and Marianas High School’s Ken Song came in at second and third after clocking in at 11:25 and 11:40, respectively.

In the boys U13, Go Sekiguchi lorded in over in the 22-runner field to hand SIS its fourth division individual title. Sekiguchi crossed the finish line at the 11:01. Saipan Community School’s Oliver Lee was ranked second after checking in at 11:41, while two-time preliminary leg winner Dominic Torres of Mt. Carmel School finished third with his 12:16.

Meanwhile, Hopwood Junior High School’s Conatsu Kaga and Agape’s Allan Zhao joined the SIS students in the champions circle.

Zhao was the overall top finisher in the 3.5-kilometer race after registering 10:29. He led Agape Top 4 finish in the boys U18, as he defeated Caleb Wang (10:49), Enze Hu (11:15), and Henry Hu (11:29). SIS’ JeHyuk Jung completed the Top 5 after clocking in at 11:30, while MCS’ Christian VIllacrusis was ranked sixth with his 11:42.

Kaga ruled the girls U13 age group after recording 12:29 and beating the Geckos’ Rei Sekiguchi and Victoria, who timed in at 13:46 and 14:21, respectively.