Taflinger, Bang series overall champs

Chad Taflinger, center, is the men’s division overall champion for all three races in the Inaugural Run Saipan Trinity ‘23. He is joined by second place Joel Buco, third place Chong Nam Lee, and Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz Jr., far right, Run Saipan treasurer/secretary Dr. Ron Snyder, third from right, and Run Saipan board member Robin Sapong, far left.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

In a grueling way to start the year off with three back-to-back races, the Inaugural Run Saipan Trinity ‘23 during the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend has finally ended with Chad Taflinger and Ann Bang claiming the overall championship of all three races in the awarding ceremony Monday at the Beach Road Pathway in Oleai.

Tallies of all three race times from the Saturday, Jan. 14, Day 1 Kensington to Marpi and back 10K course, the Sunday, Jan. 15, Day 2 Mt. Tapochao 1-way 5K course, and the Monday, Jan. 16, Day 3 Oleai Beach Road Pathway 5K course, decided the overall winners in the men’s and women’s division.

Ann Bang, center, is the women’s division overall champion for all three races in the Inaugural Run Saipan Trinity ‘23. She is joined by second place Rosemarie Chisato, third place Terra Allen, and Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz Jr., far right, Run Saipan treasurer/secretary Dr. Ron Snyder, third from right, and Run Saipan board member Robin Sapong, far left.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)(

Taflinger owned the fastest overall time of 01:43:52, earning him the gold medal. His Day 1 time was 49:02, his Day 2 time was 32:49, and his Day 3 time was 22:01.

Second to him was Joel Buco with an overall time of 01:45:39. His Day 1 time was 51:08, his Day 2 time which gave him first place was 31:36, and his Day 3 time was 22:55.

Bronze went to Chong Nam Lee with an overall time of 01:49:43. His Day 1 race time was 49:43; his Day 2 race time was 36:56; and his Day 3 race time was 22:54.

In the women’s division, Bang conquered all scenic race day courses and came out the overall champion with a time of 01:56:42. 

Bang started Day 1 on top with a time of 54:56, slipped to second place on Day 2 with a time of 37:21, then returned to first place on Day 3 with a time of 24:55.

Rosemarie Chisato came a close second with an overall time of 01:57:37. Her race Day 1 time was 55:14, which gave her second place; her Day 2 time of 36:33 placed her first; and her Day 3 time of 25:50 placed her second.

Third place went to Terra Allen with an overall time of 02:05:25. Her race Day 1 time was 57:46; her Day 2 race time was 40:21; and her race Day 3 time was 27:18.

For his part, the almost 40-year-old Taflinger said winning first place overall was “really cool. We just moved here last July so it’s kind of our first big Run Saipan event.”

The Marianas High School science and biology teacher said that he just got into running last year and that it’s been fun so far. 

As for the three-day running event, he said that it was challenging, but fun at the same time. “It was challenging—a grueling three days, but the competition was fun.” 

He said that the toughest course was definitely the laborious trek up Mt. Tapochao on Day 2, referring to the sharpest and steepest incline going up the mountain which was dubbed “Heartbreak Hill” by runners. “The hills, the elevation change. Going up Heartbreak Hill is just brutal. You have to walk but you just have to continually push—one step in front of the other. You just know there’s going to be a flat part when you get to the top but that’s all you’re thinking about—getting a chance to get a little downhill and get a breather.”

With placing first overall, Taflinger said that he knew he had to win at least second or third in the races, so he thanked Run Saipan for the update after the Day 2 race. “I knew kind of where I stood and so I kind of knew to push myself and go all out—just leave it all out on that course every time.”

For Bang’s part, she said “It was not easy for me to complete consecutive races for three days, but I tried to enjoy this event like a festival!”

Also, the Mt. Tapochao 5K was the hardest course for her as she said that she is not good at uphill running.

But overall, Bang said the “Trinity Run 2023 was meaningful for me because it was my first win overall, and the last year of my 40s. From next year, my age division will be changed to 50-54.”

She then said, “I would like to thank all board members and volunteers of Run Saipan, and Mr. Robin Sapong for their hard work and efforts. Before being a member of Run Saipan, I always ran alone, but after becoming a member, I got my precious friends and learned friendships. I hope many more residents will run together with us, and of course, I’ll run the Trinity Run 2024 next year!”

The annual Isle of Man Easter Festival of Running in the British Isles inspired Dr. Ron Snyder to create the inaugural three-day running event on Saipan.

Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz Jr. said after the event, “The runners really took it to the [next] level today. We had only 50 slots because we only wanted the 50 of the most daring runners in the CNMI to take part in this race. We capped off at 50 and we had a good amount of participation for all three days and everyone came here with destroyed legs but they did an amazing job to get this done.”

He gave the winners a big congratulations and said “for them to be the Top 3 fastest for men and women in the first three day race, that’s an amazing job. Most people wake up the next morning thinking they’re not going to be able to run the next race, but they did it again and again and again… You guys made history.”