By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

AROUND 40 student-athletes participated in the first of a series of qualifying trials for the 2007 McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships yesterday at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field facility.
“The first day of the trials had a good turnout. We thank the schools for showing up. We’re hoping for bigger turnouts in the succeeding trials,” Northern Marianas Athletics secretary general Robin Sapong said.
Three schools sent their students to compete in the qualifying trials; William S. Reyes Elementary School, Koblerville Elementary School and Saipan Community School.
They competed in the 100m, 200m, 1500m and 4x100m relay races and long jump trials for 12-and-under 10-and-under and 8-and-under divisions.
Qualifying trials are set to select the top six student-athletes from Saipan and two each from Rota and Tinian who will compete in the All Schools event.
The trials for the three age groups and for the above events will continue today with NMA inviting student-athletes from Dandan Elementary School, Garapan, Kagman, Tanapag, Calvary Christian Academy, Whispering Palms. Koblerbville, Oleai, San Antonio, Saipan Community School, William S. Reyes, Grace Christian Academy, Seventh Day Adventists, Mt. Carmel School, Saipan International School, San Vicente Elementary School and Gregorio T. Camacho to join the qualifiers.
The trials will run from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Qualifiers for other events in the three age groups will be held on April 16,17,18, 23,24,25 and 30 and on May 1 and 2.
Qualifiers for junior high school and high school will start on April 12.
The events to be featured on April 12 are the 100m, 200m and 1500m runs and 4x100m relay, discus throw, shotput, 80m and 100m hurdles.
Other events scheduled in the next three qualifiers are the 400m, 800m, 1,500m and 3,000m runs, the high and long jump, the javelin throw and 4x400m relay.
Hopwood, GCA, Whispering Palms, Calvary, SIS, Chacha and SCS will be competing in the junior high school division, while MHS, Southern, Kagman, GCA, MBA and SIS will be battling for the high school berths.
A second qualifier for the junior highs and highs schools is set for April 19, while the last two will be held on April 26 and May 3.