Triathletes complete race in PNG

The CNMI’s three triathletes completed the short course race in the XV Pacific Games yesterday in Konedobu, Papua New Guinea.

Peter Prestley poses with the “mud men” in Papua New Guinea before competing in the triathlon event in the XV Pacific Games yesterday in Konedobu. (Contributed Photo)

Peter Prestley emerged as the top finisher among the three Commonwealth bets after capping the 750m swim, 20K bike, and 5K run in 1:23:22. Tony Stearns and Brad Ruszala clocked in at 1:33:14 and 1:37:30, respectively. Split times of each participant were unavailable at the Pacific Games’ official website.

New Caledonia’s Audric Lucina won the event with a 59:04 and he was the lone triathlete who completed the race under one hour. Tahiti’s Benjamin Zorgnotti took the silver medal after submitting 1:02:11, while another New Caledonia bet Mathieu Szalamacha (1:03:41) settled for the bronze. Twenty-one joined the men’s division race.

In the women’s division, the gold medal also went to New Caledonia with Charlotte Robin topping 14 other participants. Robin registered 1:06:30 to beat Tahiti’s Salome De Barthez De Marmorieres (1:06:49) and compatriot Celine Grymonprez (1:08:39).

Meanwhile, the CNMI will see action in three sports today—sailing, va’a, and swimming.

Stearns and her daughter Emma will compete in sailing’s Hobie Cat Open Mix, which will run until July 11 at the Royal Papua Yacht Club in Port Moresby.

According to the Games’ website, the sailing competition offers 18 medals from the men’s and women’s laser single and the mixed Hobie Cat single. Three individual gold medals and three team titles are at stake in the six-day competition, which will have 35 races.

There will be six races per day, two in each class. Each boat will get a series score after completing five races. The boat’s series score will be the total of race scores excluding the worst score. When 11 or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of race scores excluding the two worst scores, according to the Games’ website.

Over at the Lancron Naval Base, which is also located at Port Moresby, CNMI paddlers Joshua Andrew, Jason Tarkong, Joe Ayuyu, Carter Calma, Jack Kabiriel, Dino Manning, Ben Olopai, and Joe Quan will be competing in the 500m and 1,500 qualifying heats.

At the Taurama Aquatic Centre and Indoor Sports Complex, all three CNMI swimmers—Takumi Sugie, Victoria Chentsova, and Angel De Jesus—will join the Day 1 races.

Sugie will swim in the 50m backstroke and 200m freestyle, while both Chentsova and De Jesus will participate in the qualifying heats for the 100m freestyle event.