Taflinger, Bang top ‘Revenge of the Sixth’ run

The Force was strong with Chad Taflinger and Ann Bang as they were the top runners of the Saipan International School and Run Saipan’s 3rd Annual Star Wars Day Run in a course not so far away—from Micro Beach up to the Gov. Eloy Inos Peace Park and back last Saturday afternoon.

This year’s run had an added twist as instead of commemorating the May The Fourth Be With You unofficial holiday for Star Wars fans, it paid tribute to Star Wars- Episode III-Revenge of the Sith. Thus, the race was aptly named Revenge of the Sixth as it also happened on May 6.

Over 60 costumed and non-costumed participants joined in the Jedi 5K run, a Sith 6K, at 4:30pm and the Padawan 1 Miler for children 12 and under which started at 5pm.

Taflinger, who opted not to wear a costume but came out to support the race, won first in the 6K with a time of 26:55, while Bang—in a woman’s Darth Vader costume, avenged the sith with a first place time of 30:51.

Participants of the Saipan International School and Run Saipan’s 3rd Annual Star Wars Day Run pose for a group photo before the start of their race from Micro Beach up to the Gov. Eloy Inos Peace Park and back last Saturday afternoon. (LEIGH GASES)

Second in the men’s division was Chad’s son Landen with a time of 29:15 and third was barefoot runner Chong Nam Lee at 29:39.

Terra Allen was second in the women’s division with a time of 31:35 and Shawna Brennfleck was third with a time of 32:33.

For the Taflingers, who were both not in costume, they said that this was their first Star Wars Day run and enjoyed it. “It’s fun and it’s a different course than we usually run—a little bit of grass and uphill then downhill—but the different scenery made it enjoyable. Dr. Ron [Snyder] and SIS did a good job putting it on.”

Bang, a big Star Wars fan, channeled her inner infamous sith lord as she, despite the heat of the late afternoon sun, took first place all to herself. “While I was running, I felt dizzy and I kept thinking I’m not going to run under the sun again. It was really hard and tough.”

She added that she joined the race last year which had more participants and hopes that next year there will be more participants that will come out and join. 

There was also an adult and children’s costume contest for the best Star Wars costumes at the end of the race. 

The Top 3 costumes were Simon Necesito dressed as Obi Wan Kenobi, Theodore Rodgers dressed up as a Mandalorian, and Bang in Darth Vader garb.

In the children’s costume contest, winners portrayed Princess Leia (Catalina Frink), Darth Vader, and Yoda, (Jace and Brayden Brennfleck).

As for the Jedi Master and organizer of the event, SIS’ headmaster Dr. Ron Snyder said that “The turnout was a struggle this year. There were too many conflicting events and it was a semifinals weekend for soccer so that drew a lot of our participants away. We had over 60 registrants for the adult races and that is about typical and what we would hope for. But we only had a handful in the Padawan 1 milers where there were more than 100 last year.” 

“Next year we will have a morning event to try and support the children better. It really is for them first and foremost, after all. Despite the small numbers, the costumes were great! Theo Rodgers’ Mandalorian armor was amazing! I would like to thank Athlete’s Foot for the sponsoring of the gift certificates for the Adult Costume contests, PSS Athletics for loaning us the water dispensers, OneTime sports for the timing system, and, of course Run Saipan, and all of our volunteers who made the course easy and fun to follow.”