By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

SIX events will kick off the hostilities in the 2007 McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships today at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field facility.
Northern Marianas Athletics will be holding competitions in the high jump, 400m race, discus throw, 4x400m relay and 3000m runs in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions in five age groups.
The All Schools meet was originally set to start tomorrow, but with a bigger turnout this year compared to that of the 2006 edition of the annual meet, NMA decided to begin a day ahead of the original schedule.
This year, around 1500 student-athletes will be showing their wares in throwing, running and jumping events. Last year, 1,236 participated in the All Schools meet.
“We are very happy with the turnout this year. This is good news as far as the development of athletics in the CNMI is concerned, especially among the youth,” NMA secretary general Robin Sapong said.
“We would like to thank coaches and parents for taking time out to accompany their kids to the qualifiers,” he added.
NMA will be giving trophies to the top three schools in each age group, namely, 8-and-under, 10-and-under, 12-and-under, 14-and-under and 18-and-under, while medals await the top three finishers in each event.
The top three schools will be determined via a point system. NMA will award points to student-athletes depending on how they finish in the race.
Meanwhile, NMA has released other results of last Friday’s CNMI National Championships.
Micronesian Games gold medallist Nick Gross won the Open javelin throw event with his 49.35m beating Dexter Dillay, who posted 47.71. In the U-18 division, Eric Taitano recorded 37.42m.
Kagman High School’s John Santos topped the U-18 shotput with his 11.71m, while Southern’s Donovan Castro was second with 10.91m.
In the girls’ Open javelin throw, Eva Ito posted 26.89m to defeat Jacque Wonenberg (21.90), while Lucas Knecht record 35.82m to rule the U-14 division beating Bradley Brostrom (25.51m).
In U-18 4x100m relay races, Marianas High School runners won both the boys’ and girls’ divisions.
Wonenberg, Maria Conui, Melody Ludwick and Therese Dimapilis timed in at 59.39 seconds to outrace Saipan Southern runners (1:02.18)
Nate Mateo, Champ Untalan, Freedom Mancao and Joe Conui clocked 54.14 seconds to beat Southern (1:02.18).
New Generation, which was composed of John Santos, Frank Dillay, Jesus Iguel and Sapong, timed in at 48.44 seconds in the Open 4x100m relay run to stun veteran runners Tyrone Omar, Dexter Dillay, Leeroy Rangamar and Tony Ichiou of Mixed Breed All-Stars (49.91 seconds).
In NMA related news, coach Ronald Olopai left last night for Australia to attend a Level 4 coaching clinic.
Olopai will be at the Oceania Athletic Association’s training center in Brisbane from May 13 to 26.