By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

(First of a series)

MICRONESIAN Games medallists Tyron Omar and Jacque Wonenberg continued to shine in sprint events following the Northern Marianas Athletics goodwill meet over the weekend at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field facility.
The meet was held last Saturday and Sunday with NMA hosting about 30 athletes from Guam.
Omar, who won a silver medal in the 100m run in last year’s Micro Games with a time of 11.13 seconds, clocked 10.81 seconds (hand time) in last Sunday’s 100m race beating five other runners.
Omars’ 10.81 second time was faster than Stan Iakopo’s 11.1 seconds based on the records posted in Oceania Athletics Association’s website. Omar’s best time in the 100m is 11.12 seconds (electronic), which he posted during the World Junior Championships in China last year. Omar is also the record-holder in Micronesia tying Chuuk’s Jack Howard.
In second place was Guam’s Michael Alicto, who finished the race in 11.07 seconds, followed by George Washington High School’s Hosea Ware (11.40), NMI’s Luis Iguel (11.48) and Dexter Dillay (11.72) and Kagman High School’s Jesus Iguel (11.80).
Omar also topped the 200m race after clocking 22.78 seconds, about two seconds ahead of Ware (24.07). Luis came in third with a time of 24.40, followed by Dillay (25.07).
Omar’s bid for a three-peat faltered when he placed second to GWHS’s Kenneth Karosich in the 400m race. The Geckos runner timed in at 54.80 seconds against Omar’s 58.42.
Middle distance runner Nate Mateo finished third with a time of 58.42, while the Geckos Rick Lizama (1:02.29), Michael Herreros (1:06.33) were in fourth and fifth places, respectively.
Wonenberg, who won silver and bronze medals in the Micro Games, also prevailed in two sprint events and in the 400m run.
She ruled the 100m run with a time of 13.24 beating Simon Sanchez High School runners Mary Mantanona (13.84) and Caitlin Mesias (14.25). Other entries in the girls’ 100m sprint were Saipan’s Reylnn Sapong (14.32), MHS Maria Conui (15.62) and Sarah Aldan (15.78).
The women’s 200m race was a neck-and-neck battle with Wonenberg crossing the finish line, only .01 of a second ahead of Yvonne Benette. Wonenberg timed in at 28.05 seconds, while Bennett posted 28.06. Mantanona placed third with 29. 56, followed by Sapong, Genie Gerardo, Mesias, Aldan and Zari Sapong.
Wonenberg was way ahead of her closest pursuer in the 400m race. The Marianas High School student timed in at 1:03.94, while second placer Mesias recorded 1:13.00. Sapong placed third with her 1:14.00.
Geckos runners dominated the middle distance races with Edward Babauta and Nicole Layson winning the 800m, 1500m and 3000m runs.
Babauta beat fellow Gecko Jeofry Limtiaco in the 800m race timing in at 2:14.29. Limtiaco posted 2:15.00, while Mount Carmel School’s Champ Untalan recorded 2:15.35 for third place.
Layson downed Simon Sanchez’s Jenny Garrido (2:44.11) in the women’s 800m with a time of 2:37.82. She also defeated Garrido in the 1500m with a time of 5:38.42. Garrido clocked 5:45.73. The Geckos middle distance runner clocked 12:25.61 in the 3000m race.
Babauta was about five seconds ahead of Geckos coach Jay Antonio in the 1500m as the former timed in at 4:45.26 and the latter posted 4:40.77. Limtiaco (4:54.79) placed third.
Babauta clocked 10:25.46 in the 3000m race to beat Limtiaco (10:30.21), while Untalan finished third with a time of 10:44.50.