Team NMI ready for Oceania Cup

Some members of the CNMI Athletics Team for the Oceania Cup and Oceania Athletics Masters Championships pose for a group photo at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field—the venue for the event—that starts today, Thursday, until Sunday, June 25.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

The 69-member athletics team representing the CNMI in the Oceania Cup and the Oceania Athletics Masters Championships is ready to storm the track and field of the Oleai Sports Complex starting today, June 22, until June 25.

For two days of the Oceania Cup, athletes from Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, and the Northern Marianas will sprint, jump, and throw for a chance at a podium finish. The Masters Championships are next until the last day of events on June 25.

Head coach for the CNMI team, Elias Rangamar, said although most of the members are young, he thinks that they are up to the challenge and ready to get going with the events.

He said about the team, “Overall our team is composed of youth athletes and most are still developing athletes. We will be going up against seasoned athletes but this will only help us with the experience leading up to the Micronesian Games next year. We do have a few veteran athletes plus a horde of master’s athletes that will be suiting up for the games as well.”

With that, he said that he’s confident that the CNMI team will get a fair share of the medals.

The middle distance group, led by NMI Female Athlete of the Year and NMI record holder Tania Tan, and high school phenom Kaithlyn Chavez, will lead the charge with a host of other gritty middle distance runners. 

The CNMI team also includes several athletes from Tinian—2022 Pacific Mini Games bronze medalist Dennis Borja and up-and-coming young prodigy Matua San Nicholas.

Lyle Andrew, who represents CNMI in the shot put and discus throw, winds up for the discus throw during the Northern Marianas Athletics Challenge last June 10 in preparation of the Oceania Cup at the Oleai Sports Complex.(LEIGH GASES)

When asked what each athlete worked on in their training, Rangamar said “Each discipline (event) has different approaches to their training, for example distance runners focus on cardio, tempo, pace etc., while sprinters focus on strength and speed. Jumpers and throwers focus on plyometrics and dynamic power and strength. At this stage of the season though, everyone is focused on being sharp and competition ready.”

As for what the team is feeling heading toward the event, he said that being the host and at home helps a lot with the jitters and anxieties of competition. With his expectations for the team, he said, “Like I alluded to earlier, our team is still young so our expectations are for our athletes to compete at the highest level, hopefully set some personal best, national records and garner us some medals along the way. Most importantly, we hope our athletes get a ton of experience and fun.”

For middle distance runner Chavez, she told Saipan Tribune that “Training for the Oceania has been hard since I’ve been balancing soccer and running… I’m looking forward to gaining more experience and this is a once in a lifetime experience so I’ll just enjoy the moment, as well as being able to watch runners from different islands compete. I think I’m physically ready, I’ll just give it my all and hope to represent the NMI well.”

Multiple World Championships representative Sapong, who is competing in the 100m and 200m sprint, also said that she’s excited to compete. She said their previous Northern Marianas Athletics Challenge helped her prepare for the upcoming events.

CNMI’s athletics team members are the following: Aaron Pamintuan, Saim Ali, Lyle Andrew, Anthony Borja, Dennis Borja, Greg Borja, Tim Brasuell, Alexander Camacho, Lawrence Camacho, Kaithlyn Chavez, Rosemarie Chisato, Colleen Cing, Casey Cruz, Sly Defang, Cheraline Epity, Kelvin Fitial, Erin Frink, Jess Gariguez, Savannah Grant, Nick Gross, Tony Ichiuo, Maria Igitol, Sheila Isla, Jacoby Winkfield, Changhwan Jang, Daniel Joab, Paul Khang, Greg Koebel, Chong Nam Lee, James Lee, James Lin, Keith Longuski, Michael Mancao, Akiko Miller, Beouch Ngirchonger, Maria Ornes, Jessica Ortizo, Micah Page, Fema Pelaez, Orrin Pharmin, Pony Tang, Leith Poole, Kina Rangamar, Lia’Mwar Rangamar, Michael Rodgers, Theodore Rodgers, Kathy Ruscala, Matua San Nicholas, Angel San Nicolas, Zarinae Sapong, Chiharu Sato, Kosuke Sato, Elizabeth Sawyer, Mike Sawyer, Cody Shimizu, Sildrey Veloria, Simon Necesito, Simon Tang, Tania Tan, Tiana Cabrera, Kathleen Tolentino, Raymund Tolentino, Leo Wania, and Kathleen Winkfield.