The Marianas High School girls team members pose for photo with the girls division championship trophy during the awards ceremony of the PSS-NMNPSF Interscholastic Outrigger Race Series SY24-25 on Saturday at Kilili Beach.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
SAIPAN Southern High School may have seized most of the spotlight during the PSS-NMNPSF Interscholastic Outrigger Race Series SY24-25 finale on Saturday at Kilili Beach, but the Marianas High School girls team also had their moment on the podium as they claimed the girls division championship.
In the preliminary round of the 500m event, MHS came in second with a time of 03:13.200 to acquire 10 points while SSHS finished first with a time of 03:12.420 for 14 points. Mount Carmel School came in third with 6 points (03:15.890) and Kagman High School was fourth with 2 points (03:17.020).
In the finals, however, MHS was dominant, clocking 03:31.590 to collect 28 more points. SSHS settled for second place with 20 points (03:35.720), followed by KHS with 12 (03:36.070), and MCS with 4 points (04:00.380).
In the 1000m race, MHS solidified its lead by finishing first in both rounds.
In the prelims, MHS earned 14 points, clocking 06:58.160 to finish first. MCS came in second with 10 points (07:07.860), followed by SSHS with 6 points (07:13.430), and KHS with 2 points (07:28.440).
In the finals, MHS finished first once again with a time of 07:18.110 to collect 28 points while SSHS came in second with 20 points (07:21.710) and MCS was third with 12 points (07:47.520). KHS suffered a disqualification.
Although MHS did not have a perfect run, it still collected enough points — 159 — to secure the girls division championship.
In second place was SSHS with a total of 102 points. MCS was third with 89 points while KHS was fourth with 43 points.
MHS coach Tiana Aldan said there was a lot of pressure in the championship race.
“There were a lot of points on the line with a team either winning it or losing it all. But I always tell my students to do their best, have fun, and make memories because whether we win or lose, that is the importance of the sport — for them to know that anything out there is possible for them as long as they work hard.” Aldan said. “It’s been about two years since we last won the championship,” she noted. She credits their success to the team’s year-round training.
MHS team captain Monique Mendiola said she was “quite nervous.”
“Although we did good, the double points always make me nervous. But we persevered and did great,” she added.
Mendiola believes that they won because “most of the girls have trained for the Micro Cup and because we already have chemistry.”
A junior student, Mendiola has been paddling since her freshman year.
Aldan thanked “Mama Jen for coming down every single day and cooking delicious food; the paddling federation; PSS’ Mr. Gross and Mr. Lawrence; and everyone else that has been coming down to show support — thank you.”
