SIS, MHS ahead; Agape lurks

Runners leave at the starting line of the 800m qualifying race in the 2019 Public School System/McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships last Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex. (Contributed Photo)

Saipan International School and Marianas High School emerged as the early favorites in the girls high school competition in the 2019 Public School System/McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships, while Agape Christian School is not far behind as proven in the results of the first qualifier held last Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex.

In the girls U18’s 800m trial, SIS had a 1-2 finish with Tania Tan and Anika Snyder timing in at 3:05.97 and 3:10.20, respectively. Agape’s Elizabeth Yu submitted 3:11.47 to rank third.

Tan went also topped the 1,500m and 3,000m qualifying runs with Snyder placing second in the shorter race and fourth in the longer one. Marianas High School’s Jerlyn Castillo and Ruschelle Valino were second and third in the 3,000m run, while Vivian Wu had the second best qualifying time in the 1,500m behind Tan.

In the sprints, SIS’ Maury Zon Tybaco ruled Heat 1 of the 100m run, while MHS’ Jaime Pangelinan and Leani Acosta led Heat 2 and 3, respectively.

Tybaco also came in at first on Heat 1 of the 200m race and was followed by Agape’s Amelia Yu and Hannah Yan, while Pangelinan, Castillo, and Acosta had a 1-2-3 finish on Heat 2.

In the 400m’s Heat 1, Agape swept the Top 3 (Ivy Yu, Vivian Wu, and Wendy Tang), while Valino, Kagman’s Aaliyah Indalecio, and SIS’ Maria Gregoire made up the Top 3 on Heat 2.

In the field events, Pangelinan won in the long jump qualifier, while her fellow MHS students, Castillo and Sendrei Camacho, finished second and third, respectively. Six other students joined the qualifier.

Desdrei Camacho and Pangelinan gave MHS another 1-2 finish in the discus throw, while Agape’s Keziah Garcia rounded out the Top 3. In the shot put, MHS swept the Top 3 with Halle Kenty leading the way and followed by Desrei and Valino.

Besides the U18 age group, the girls high school trials also have competitions in the U15 division. The Top 4 overall finishers (Saipan leg) in sprint events after the series of trials will advance to the championship round, which is set for May 10 and 11, while two slots are allotted for Tinian. In the middle distance runs and jumping and throwing events, the Top 8 in the Saipan leg will advance, while Tinian is also given two spots.

The same rules are implemented in the boys high school, middle, and elementary divisions. Results of other qualifiers will be reported in Saipan Tribune later this week. Fourteen schools are competing in the elementary, 12 in the middle, and eight in high school.

Saipan International School’s Maury Zon Tybaco runs in the 100m qualifying race in the 2019 Public School System/McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships last Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex. (Contributed Photo)