SPC, MOC top Mau Fatuul Classic

Saipan Paddling Club’s co-ed team leads two Napu squads on their way to the finish line of the 500m preliminary heat during last Saturday’s 16th Mau Fatuul Classic held in the waters off Chamolinian Utt in Garapan. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Saipan Paddling Club and Marianas Outrigger Canoe dominated Day 1 of the 16th Mau Fatuul Classic held in the waters off Chamolinian Utt in Garapan.

SPC recorded first place finishes in the junior women’s, women, and co-ed’s 500m finals and also ruled the 1,000m championship races in the junior men’s and women’s and women’s division. MOC, on the other hand, swept the men’s 500m and 1,000m final events.

In the junior women’s 500m, SPC clocked in at 3:18.99 to place ahead of Napu Outrigger Canoe Club and Hoe Lokahi, which submitted 3:21.26 and 3:54.88, respectively.

In the junior men’s 500m finals, Napu foiled SPC’s bid for a sweep, as the former timed in at 2:22 against the latter’s 2:37.29. Hoe Lokahi had another third-place finish after registering 2:37.50.

In the women’s division, there were only to teams with SPC completing the two-lap race in 3:22 or 13 seconds ahead of Marianas Pacific Paddlers (3:35). SPC was also triumphant in the co-ed division, making it to the finish line way ahead of two Napu teams. SPC broke the three-minute barrier in the 500m finals after logging 2:52.37, while Napu 1 and 2 timed in at 3:02.72 and 3:22.86, respectively.

In the men’s 500m finals, MOC was the runaway winner after checking in to the finish line at the 2:26.44 mark. SPC came in at second with its 2:41.36, while Napu placed third after recording 2:47.14.

MOC duplicated its feat in the 1,000m finale after completing the four-lap race under six minutes with its 5:47.38. SPC was again ranked second with its 6:14.38, while Napu settled for the third spot after posting 6:14.89.

The three other division finals in the 1,000m event produced the same winning club—SPC. It’s 6:51.67 gave SPC the victory in the junior women’s category, while Napu was way behind at second after tallying 7:21.11. Hoe Lokahi finished third after registering 8:04.29.

In the junior men’s, the title race was a bit close with SPC’s 6:19.72 besting the 6:21.29 and 6:21.54 of Hoe Lokahi and Napu, respectively. In the women’s division, SPC had nearly 18-second lead over MPP as the former clocked in at 6:45.34 versus the latter’s 7:13.48.

Meanwhile, the 16th Mau Fatuul Classic held long distance races and a standup paddling short course competition yesterday and results will be reported in Saipan Tribune later this week.