By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
THE Triathlon Association of the CNMI hosted the Chagi Norf Challenge Duathlon at Banzai Cliff on Saturday morning, drawing local multisport enthusiasts and rising youth stars to a demanding run-bike-run course. Christian Villacrusis and Lily Muldoon claimed the top spots in their respective divisions.
The course consisted of a 2.5-kilometer run, followed by a 20K bike segment, and concluded with another 2.5K run.
The men’s duathlon featured a tactical race at the front, with Villacrusis securing the top spot on the podium in a commanding time of 57:47. Despite the win, Villacrusis said the elements played a major role in his strategy.
“I’ve been training pretty hard, so I’m happy with the results,” Villacrusis said. “I didn’t want the chasing group to catch me. We have some pretty strong cyclists who joined the race this morning, so I kept pushing on the bike and finished really strong on the run.”
Villacrusis narrowly outpaced Arvin Velasco, who finished second in 59:39, while Nap Dizon settled for third in 1:00:32.
In the women’s division, Muldoon delivered a powerhouse performance, breaking the tape in 59:59. For Muldoon, the race was a perfect blend of scenery and struggle.
“It was a great morning for a race,” Muldoon said. “The course at Banzai is always beautiful, but that headwind on the return leg of the bike definitely made us work for it.”
Muldoon and Villacrusis went head-to-head during the run segments, but the bike portion proved decisive, allowing Villacrusis to gain the edge.
“We had a nice run together,” Muldoon said. “I thought I was going to beat him out of the transition zone because I wasn’t wearing bike shoes — just sneakers — so I didn’t have to change. But he had a really fast transition.”
Muldoon was followed by Shawna Brennfleck, who finished second in 1:05:32, and Kerri Bauer, who placed third in 1:12:42.
The Super Sprint men’s division featured a lone competitor, Matt Nelson, who finished with a time of 28:12.
TRAC Vice President Shawna Brennfleck said the race was an essential part of the buildup toward the Pacific Games next year in Tahiti.
“Another one of our goals is to send athletes to big events in Oceania,” Brennfleck said. “We’re trying to use that to our advantage to send athletes off island to participate. If your goal is to go to the Pacific Games, we want people out here now, training with us in preparation for the qualifiers.”
She also highlighted the event’s inclusivity, noting that it provides a platform for everyone — from elite competitors to those simply looking for a weekend challenge.
The enthusiasm was equally high in the youth categories, where the next generation of CNMI triathletes showcased their speed.
In the Super Sprint teams division, SHS Team 1 finished first in 49:27, followed by SHS Team 2 in 50:55.
In the Super Sprint Youth Boys division, Beau Bauer led the pack in 24:29, followed by Brayden Brennfleck (24:53) and Finley Nelson (26:53). Amethyst Winkfield claimed the Super Sprint Youth Girls title in 26:45.
In the Boys 9U division, Jace Brennfleck secured first place in 5:28, followed by Waylon Beyer (6:25) and Jasper Davis (6:26). Victoria Santos led the Girls 9U field in 8:13, followed by Nico O’Sullivan (8:24) and Beryl Winkfield (9:47).
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
