Veterans deliver for CNMI

The CNMI’s Tony Ichiuo prepares for the javelin throw competition in the Oceania Micronesian Regional Championships 2018 last Thursday at the Oleai Sports Complex. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The old reliables added a few more to the CNMI’s medal tally, as the Oceania Micronesian Regional Championships 2018 concluded last Friday at the Oleai Sports Complex.

Nick Gross and Tony Ichiuo, who are both veterans of the Micronesian Games, won the gold and bronze medals in the javelin throw with the former registering 49.74 meters against the latter’s 41.52m. Palau’s Adrian Justin Ililau took the silver with his 46.33m heave, while four others joined the event: the CNMI’s Douglas Schmidt (41.10m) and Dean Blake (32.15m), Chuuk’s Ryson Lokomho (38.20m) and Nauru’s J.J. Cepelle (32.72m).

Gross also competed in the hammer throw and got the silver after recording 21.52m. Guam’s Justin Andrew earned the gold with his 46.35m, while Kelvin Fitial gave the CNMI another podium finish after posting 20.10m, Ichiuo and Blake were the other participants in the men’s open hammer throw and logged 16.05m and 15.16m, respectively.

In other results in throwing events, Guam swept the men’s shot put and discus throw, thanks to Andre. The Guam athlete had a 12.40m heave in the shot put for first place, while Nauru’s Joseph Dabana (12.31m) and the CNMI’s Dennis Borja (11.16m) settled for second and third. In the discus, Andre’s 40.65m handed him the victory over Nauru’s Quadina Bouncer (38.01) and Dabana (36.05m) and six other participants.

In the men’s open triple jump, Schmidt delivered the gold medal for the host after tallying 12.44m. He won over Guam’s Darin Pascua (11.68m) and Palau’s Ililau (11.63m).

In the boys U18 division’s long jump, John Paul Dimalanta’s 6.11m put him on top of the podium. Guam had a 1-2-3 finish in the event with Johnny Laimus (5.71m) and Gilbert Hollingsworth (5.66) getting the silver and bronze. The Marshall Islands’ Ernest Maun (5.07m) and Roland Lang (4.98m) also competed in the event.

In the hurdles, the CNMI’s Orrin Pharmin got the automatic gold in the 110m after completing the obstacle in 24.99 seconds. Guam’s Jeofry Limtiaco and Kyle Delos Santos brought home the gold and silver medals in the 400m hurdles with the former timing in at 1:00.44 against the latter’s 1:02.03. The CNMI’s Beo Ngirchongor got the bronze after submitting 1:05.53.

Meanwhile, Guam dominated the middle and long distance races in the men’s open division.

Pacific Games veteran Derek Mandell lorded it over in the 1,500m and 3,000m. He registered 4:13.55 in the 1,500m to beat compatriot Delos Santos (4:41.69), I.S. Arongaw (4:50.72), and four others. Then in the longer 3,000m run, Mandell’s 9:45:08 was way ahead of the 10:09.10 of fellow Guam athlete Ben Middlebrooks and the 11:10.72 of the CNMI’s Tyler Santos.

After his runner-up finish in the 3,000m, Middlebrooks made sure he would go home with the gold in the 5,000 after timing in at 18:09.02 and prevailing in his one-on-one race against the Marshall Islands’ Michael Launi (21:49.45).

Guam also took the gold in the 800m, courtesy of Delos Santos, who logged 2:09.71. Nauru’s Togogae John-Rico got the silver after completing the race in 2:09.92, while Guam’s Pascua rounded out the Top 3 after checking in at 2:10.43. Eight other runners joined the event with the CNMI’s Leowel Cristobal the fastest finisher for the host after recording 2:13.98.

Results in other events, including the women’s races and throwing competitions will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Tuesday edition.