By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

EIGHT athletes led the list of awardees in the Northern Marianas Athletes Sports Banquet last Saturday at the Minachom Atdao Pavilion.
NMA recognized them along with coaches, individuals and companies for their impressive performance in 2006 and for their contribution to the growth of the sport on the island.
Named as the top female athlete in the 12-and-under age group was Whispering Palm’s Ryan Baron, who led his school in the All Schools Cross Country series and the McDonald’s All School Championships to victories.
Joining him in the list was Lia Rangamar, who helped the NMI team won a silver medal in the cross country event in the 6th Micronesian Games last year.
In the junior division or for the 18-and-under age group, Jacque Wonenberg was the unanimous choice because of her numerous accomplishments on and off island.
The 15-year old Wonenberg won a couple of medals in the Micronesian Games and dominated sprint events in her age group in local tournaments.
Off island, she was part of the NMI team that competed in the Oceania 18-and-under and Open Championships last December in Samoa and won the cross country event in the 18-and-under division.
At the start of the year, she went to Sydney, Australia to compete in the Australian Youth Olympics as member of the Oceania Athletics Association team.
Long distance runners Champ Untalan and Nate Mateo were named co-top male athletes in the 18-and-under age group.
The two MHS students were part of the NMI team that competed in the Micronesian Games and in the Oceania meet in Samoa. Mateo placed second in the cross country event in Samoa and Untalan finished third.
In the Open category, sprinter Tyrone Omar and Dexter Dillay shared honors in the male division.
Aside from ruling the 100m race in local tournaments, Omar also competed in tournaments in Moscow, Russia, Beijing, China, Fiji and Samoa.
He is Micronesia’s record-holder in the 100m with a time of 11.12 seconds.
Middle-distance runner Noriko Jim was the female awardee in the Open category. She gave NMI its first gold in last year’s Micronesian Games winning the 5000m race. She was the winner of the same award in 2005.
NMA recognized two more athletes in Chang Whan Jang, who was named top performer in the Masters division, and Stuart Smith (Roadrunner).
NMA also honored coaches, individuals and sponsors.
The association gave plaques of recognition to former MHS coach Bob Winkfield, Southern coach Richard “Hawk” Haugh and Whispering Palms’ Tom Weindl.
Penny Jones received this year’s President’s Award for her continued support to the association volunteering for every tournament the NMA hosted last year.
NMA also honored its public information officer Shan Seman and private and public companies for the promotion and development of athletes on NMI.
NMA president Kurt Barnes led the awarding of trophies and plaques. Joining him in the presentation of awards were NMA officials Elias Rangamar, Robin Sapong, Victorino Untalan and Lou Wabol.
Barnes hailed athletes for their impressive performance last year and hoped for more accomplishments this season.
Sapong asked the awardees to share their awards with their parents, who supported them in their quest for excellence in the sport.