Tinian foils MHS’ bid for sweep

A Tinian High School runner, third left, races in the 60m run during last week’s 2016 PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships at the Hopwood Junior High School Field. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Tinian Junior and Senior High School stole the thunder from perennial champion Marianas High School, winning the boys U18 division title in last week’s 2016 PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships.

Tinian collected 141 points from the 12 events its students participated in to place ahead of MHS and Agape Christian School in the final rankings. The Dolphins got 118 points, while the Torchbearers scored 111. The eventual division champion, which had Zachariah and Joshua Hofschneider, Tyler Santos, Ace Pangilinan, John Dona, Mike Cabulay, and Jayron Epity as members, topped the boys U18 field after dominating the field events—javelin (18 points), discus (24 points), and shotput (24 points). MHS, which took the early lead in the division after ruling several running competitions, dropped to second as it did not have entries in the three field events, while Agape tallied only 26 markers in the javelin, discus, and shot-put.

The Stallions’ victory in the boys U18 foiled MHS’ bid for a sweep in the age group. The Lady Dolphins was the runaway winner in the girls U18 after getting 210 points or nearly double than the total output of the second-ranked ACS (107). Saipan International School rounded out the Top 3 after tallying 34 points.

The Top 3 finishers in U18 division and other age groups received trophies from the organizing Northern Marianas Athletics last Saturday at the conclusion of the four-day meet at the Hopwood Junior High School Field.

Hopwood took home three first place trophies after sweeping the girls and boys U13 and prevailing in the boys U15. The Hilitais were way ahead of their competitors in the boys U13 after recording 130 points. Second placer SIS and third finisher Tinian posted only 62 and 58 points, respectively. Agape (46) came in at fourth, followed by Dandan Middle School (43), Saipan Community (22), San Antonio (10), Whispering Palms (6), and Chacha (6).

In the girls U13, Hopwood was also a dominant force, collecting 189 against the 58 of San Antonio and 30 of SIS. Agape had 28 markers to fall short in its bid to make it to the podium, while Tinian got only 12 markers for fifth place.

Agape made up for a missed chance in the girls U13 with its first-place finish in the girls U15 division. The Torchbearers tallied 118 points to prevail against Hopwood (76) and Dandan (46). Tinian logged 44 and San Antonio earned 4 points to complete the field.’s 91.In the boys U15, Hopwood got even with Agape with the former registering 106 against the latter’s 91. Tinian finished third with its 76 points, while San Antonio (30) and Tanapag Middle School (20) came in at fourth and fifth, respectively.

Meanwhile, William S. Reyes Elementary School and Koblerville shared the spotlight in the elementary division, winning three age groups titles each.

The Kingfishers swept the boys and girls U7 after gaining 132 and 80 points. In the boys field, WSR finished ahead of Brilliant Star School ( 63), Koblerville (52), and Tinian (27). In the girls contest, the Kingfishers topped Koblerville (64), Agape (28), SCS (18), and Whispering Palms (6).

After settling for runner-up honors, it was Koblerville’s turn to rule the U9 age group. The Umangs got 110 points in the boys division to win against WSR (79), Whispering Palms (36), Tinian (13), Kagman Elementary School (11), SCS (10), SIS (10), and Agape (8). In the girls field, Koblerville’s 105 points bested the 63 of WSR, 54 of Brilliant Star, 27 of Tinian, 26 of Whispering Palms, and 16 of Agape.

Koblerville got its third division championship after reigning supreme in the girls U11 age group. The Umangs were awarded with 124 points to down Whispering Palms (88), Tinian (43), WSR (18), Brilliant Star (8), Kagman (4), and Agape (4).

WSR duplicated Koblerville’s three title wins after lording it over in the boys U11. WSR posted 85 points to beat the 43 of Tinian, 42 of Agape, 38 of Koblerville and Kagman, 28 of Whispering Palms, 11 of Chacha, 6 of Brilliant Star, and 2 of Dandan.