Turtles outrun foes in All Schools

The Oleai Elementary School Turtles closed strong in the final qualifying events of the 2021 Public School System All Schools Track and Field Championship at the Oleai Track and Field last Friday. (Kimberly B. Esmores)

The Oleai Elementary School Turtles closed strong in the final qualifying events of the 2021 Public School System All Schools Track and Field Championship at the Oleai Track and Field last Friday.

Like the story the Tortoise and the Hare, the OES Turtles demonstrated that reptiles rule after sweeping three of the final four qualifying events last Friday.

In the 60m race, the 12U Turtles dominated its competition behind Sherman Camacho, Twayne Kapwhich, and Kyle Diaz who completed the Top 3. Camacho finished the 60m course the fastest at 10.63 followed closely by Kapwhich at 10.85 who was tailed by Diaz at 11.24.

The trio won a similar victory in the 12U 200m event with Camacho finishing first with a time of 41.54, followed by Kapwhich submitting a time of 42.12 and Diaz completing the top three again at 42.45.

The Lady Turtles also triumphed in their own division of the 12U 60m category with Indirha Chalanag who finished first at 10.83 followed by schoolmate Reanni Sablan submitting a time of 11.13. Completing the Top 3 was William S. Reyes’ Aires Jo Magofna who came in at 11.39.

The Lady Turtles also succeeded in the 12U 200m qualifier with Chalanag and Sablan being the only athletes who participated in the qualifier. Chalanag came in first at 40.31 followed closely by Sablan at 41.07.

The Lady Turtles remained consistent, bagging first in the 9U category of the 60m event behind Alina Esakova who finished in 10.49. Saipan Community School’s Maria Haberman came in at second by a hair with a time of 11.06, closely tailed by OES’ Elena Teigita who finished at 11.27.

The Lady Turtles also prevailed in the 9U category of the 200m qualifier with Eskova topping her foes with a time of 39.20. SCS’ Allie Brasuell came in second at 41. 76, while OES’ Teigita finished in 43.71.

Meanwhile, the WSR Kingfishers prevailed in the 9U category of the 60m behind Landin Reyes who took first place with a time of 11.17 in the second heat. He was tailed by SCS’ Joshua McDonald who finished first in the first heat just .20 seconds behind Reyes at 11.37. Completing the Top 3 was WSR’s Marq Hernandez who finished at 11.85.

Reyes also prevailed in the 9U category of the 200m event after submitting a time of 39.93. SCS’ Kastle Haberman placed second for the category with his time of 43.28 and rounding up the Top 3 was SCS’ Lenox Sablan with a time of 43.77.

With the Turtles not making a debut in the 9U 800m category, the Kingfishers came out on top behind John Paul Binghit who came in at 03.42 followed closely by SCS’ Andre Guerrero at 03.44. Completing the Top 3 was WSR’s Jiro Quindoza who came in at 04.03.

The Lady Tsunamis of SCS swept the win behind Brasuell and Haberman who bagged first and second place, respectively. Brasuell finished with a time of 03.37 closely followed by Haberman at 04.02.

In the 12U long jump qualifiers, the Turtles remained consistent with Camacho bagging first at 3.20m, followed by Diaz at 3.10m and completing the Top 3 was Kapwhich who lept for 2.60m.

The Lady Turtles also succeeded and swept their division of the 12U long jump category with Chalanag coming in first with a time of 2.60m, followed by Sandra Chargualaf who finished 2.40m. Rounding up the Top 3 was Sablan who came in at 2.20m.

In the 9U Long jump category, the Lady Tsunamis managed to gain entrance to the Top 3 behind SCS’ Haberman who submitted a time of 3.00. Taking second was OES’ Esakova with a time of 2.80 followed by Teigita at 2.40.

The Tsunamis continued to triumph in the boy’s division of the 9U long jump with Kastle Haberman with a jump of 2.80m. McDonald came in just 10m short of Kastle at 2.70m. Completing the Top 3 was WSR’s Visnuthep Paul at 2.35m.

The Public School System All Schools Track and Field Championship is being held in coordination with Northern Marianas Athletics.