By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

(First of a series)

THE 2007 CNMI National Track and Field Championships last Friday at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field facility indicated that the commonwealth has a promising future as participants in the younger age groups showed impressive performances.
Yvonne Bennett won over Jacque Wonenberg in the 100m and 200m races anew.
The Kagman High School student posted 13.73 seconds and 27.64 seconds in the 100m and 200m runs.
Bennett, who set a new meet record in the 200m run last Friday, defeated Wonenberg in both events in the series of qualifiers for the 2007 McDonald’s All Schools Championship.
“Beside a good turnout in the younger age groups, all athletes that took part in the CNMI Nationals showed lots of competitive skills and great effort,” Northern Marianas Athletics secretary general Robin Sapong said.
Wonenberg redeemed herself in the long jump posting 4.28m.
Also showing impressive performances were newcomer Chiang Duenas, Reylynn Sapong, Danbi Choi, Tyrone Omar, Champ Untalan, Angelo Jones and Nate Mateo.
Duenas won the 100m race in the 13 to 15 age group with her 14.40 seconds beating
Lia Rangamar, who timed in at 14.84.
Sapong topped the 200m race in the same age group with her time of 31.46 seconds defeating Sarah Aldan (33.13 seconds).
Choi ruled the 3000m race in the 15 to 18 age group with a time of 12:25.73. Melody Ludwick came in second clocking 12:50.72.
In the boys’ 1500m race, Untalan finished first with a time of 4:56, followed by Mateo, who timed in at 4:47.96.
Jones, the youngest runner in the 1500m race, timed in at 5:57 to set a new personal best.
In the 3000m run, Mateo place first with a time of 11:51.29, while Untalan was in second place with his 11:55.71.
Omar won both the 100m and 200m races after clocking 11.20 and 23.01 seconds, respectively.