By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

ATHLETES from Northern Marianas Athletics swept the NMASA’s January athletes of the month awards after their impressive showings in the Saipan Marathon last month.
At NMASA’s meeting last Thursday, NMA’s Jack Kabriel, Noriko Jim, Jacque Wonenberg and David Bautista were voted top athletes of January.
Kabiriel was named Male Athlete of the Month for placing second overall in the 2nd Annial Saipan Marathon on Jan. 20.
The former NMI team member in last year’s Micronesian Games, timed in at three hours, 21 minutes, 49 seconds in the 42k race. Kabriel impressively shaved off one hour, 28 minutes from his time in the inaugural edition of the marathon in 2006.
The NMI long distance runner won the citation over Jerome Delos Santos of baseball. Santos was nominated for the award after leading the Hustlers to a title-win in the SML Fall League.
NMA’s Noriko Jim was the lone nominee in the Female Athlete of the Month race.
Jim participated in Saipan Marathon’s 10k run, which she won for the second straight year with a time of 42:26. Jim also recorded the second fastest time in the 10k race, eclipsing her 47:01 mark last year.
Bautista of Saipan Southern High School grabbed the Male Student Athlete of the Month plum after competing in the Saipan Marathon. He was the youngest participant in the race and stood his ground against tough runners finishing in the top 10 with a time of 3:56:08.
He shared the same honor with John Mafnas.
Mafnas was the Hustlers pitcher and helped his team claim the pennant and the championship in the SML Fall League.
The 17-year old dominated the pitching category and won the earned run average and strikeout champion awards. He was later named the league’s Rookie of the Year.
Wonenberg of Marianas High School earned the Female Student Athlete of the Year award after participating in the Australian Youth Olympics Festival in Sydney from Jan. 17 to 20.
Wonenberg was part of Oceania Athletic Association’s 4x400m relay team, which ran against New Zealand and Australian bets.