By James Sablan
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
ALTHOUGH many climbed Mt. Tapochao before sunrise, others took to the Beach Road pathway at sunset on Friday, with Takeru Jim and Erica George claiming the top spots in their respective divisions of the CHCC 5th Annual Happy Hearts 5K Fun Run & Walk.
Organized in partnership with Run Saipan and the Sunshine Squad, the event, held at the Garapan Fishing Base, brought together nearly 100 participants in celebration of cardiovascular health.
Despite the race falling on Good Friday, turnout was strong, with runners and walkers of all ages hitting the pavement.
On the competitive side, Takeru Jim topped the men’s overall division, crossing the finish line in 19:18. He was followed by Eugene Olivar in 20:45 and JP Camacho in 20:58.
In the women’s division, Erica George claimed first place with a time of 24:45, ahead of An Bang (26:13) and Olivia Leung (27:04).
The event also featured a dedicated category for CHCC staff, highlighting the healthcare community’s commitment to the cause. Edmundo Bata led the CHCC men’s division with a time of 25:47, followed by Kurt Songsong (27:32) and Fitz Gerald Cuenco (37:17). In the women’s division, Roxanne Joyce Soriano took first in 30:19, followed by Mackenzie Powers (32:27) and Emele Tamanikaiverata (37:23).
Following the race, Dr. Jenna Kong, an internal medicine physician at CHCC and chair of the CHCC Sunshine Squad, shared her thoughts on the turnout.
“I was very pleasantly surprised. We had close to 100 — about 99 participants signed up when I checked this afternoon. Every year we’re around 100, so we maintained that this year,” she said.
As for the Sunshine Squad’s mission, Kong added, “The goal is to encourage cardiovascular health and get people to have fun — walking, jogging, running, and being outdoors while exercising their hearts.”
The Sunshine Squad has supported Run Saipan annually for the past five years as an event sponsor. This year, the group donated $500 and provided refreshments.
“Our purpose is to encourage camaraderie among CHCC providers and support nonprofit organizations across the island,” Kong said.
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.
