Tagaman pioneers reminisce

Participants, organizers, and sponsors of the 30th Tagaman Triathlon pose for a photo after the event’s press conference yesterday at Kanoa Resort. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The press conference for this Saturday’s 2019 Tagaman Triathlon became a trip down memory lane as the event’s pioneers looked back at the first-ever race 30 years ago.

“It was an event where everybody came out to help. Back then, there were only a few hotels on island and a few people, too, but we did not have a problem getting support from them,” said Bill Sakovich, who organized the first Tagaman with Wolf Mojica and J.M. Guerrero.

Sakovich returned to Saipan last Tuesday to witness the 30th staging of one of the oldest triathlon events in the Pacific and was reunited with Ruben Chappins and Hideya Miyazuka—the Top 2 finishers in the inaugural Tagaman

“Having the likes of Ruben and Mr. Miyazuka in Tagaman Triathlon made people come to Saipan and join the race. If they knew these two are in the race, other triathletes follow them, that’s how Tagaman drew participants and of course because of the uniqueness of this small island,” said Sakovich, who joined the two veteran triathletes in the event’s press conference yesterday at Tagaman’s main hotel sponsor Kanoa Resort.

“I remember Tagaman was my first race of the season,” said Chappins, who was 37 years old when he debuted in Saipan’s signature event. “Tagaman proved that age really does not matter when you believe anything is possible and you put your heart into it. After Tagaman, I raced in Ironman and finished in the Top 12. At my age, I was not supposed to finish in the Top 30, let alone in the Top 12, so somehow, Tagaman helped me defy the odds and get ready for a good year (1988).

“I miss this place and would you believe, just a few hours after I arrived, the first thing I did was dive into the ocean,” said Chappins, who traveled all the way from Arizona.

He did four more Tagaman after his debut and will be gunning for his sixth, but this time as a participant in the team event.

“I am 67 and haven’t been into swimming and running in the past years. I will just do the bike part,” said Chappins, who will team up with a swimmer from Hong Kong and a Saipan runner.

“No more competitive race for me, I am past that. I am here to enjoy this beautiful island. I am just glad to be back and thank the organizers for finding me and bringing me here,” Chappins said.

Miyazuka is also pleased to return for Tagaman for the nth time. Thee 55-year-old Japanese did not only participate in the race, but also bring other triathletes with him.

Asked what’s his best memory of the inaugural Tagaman, he said it was trying to catch up with Chappins and enjoying the scenery.

While Miyazuka and other old-timers will be focusing on reliving their old glory, Guam’s Manami Iijima will be concentrating on the task on hand—defend the women’s title and clinch a 3-peat.

“I hope to have a good mechanical day and get the best out of myself,” said Iijima, who will be up against pros from Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.

In the men’s pro, 2016 champion and last year’s runner-up Aleksandr Dorovskikh leads the field, which also includes returnee Kaon Cho of Korea and his two compatriots, and a couple of triathletes from Hong Kong and Japan.

Overall, nearly 190 have signed up for tomorrow’s race with 129 of them going solo.

Organizers Triathlon Association of the CNMI and Marianas Visitors Authority are reminding pedestrians and motorists to take extra caution on the road and be patient, especially along the Tagaman course. Triathletes are expected to hit Beach Road, Koblerville and the San Roque and Marpi areas from 6am to 11am.

This year’s Tagaman will start and end at Kilili Beach with the swim leg covering a two-kilometer distance and bike and run legs at 60K and 15K, respectively.