By James Sablan
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE local track and field community witnessed speed, endurance, and athletic excellence at the Oleai Sports Complex during the opening day of the Northern Marianas Athletics Open Track & Field Meet 2026 as athletes of all ages lived up to the event’s motto: “Rise Up. Let’s Run, Jump & Throw!”
Thursday’s competition featured the long jump, 60m Masters, 800m, shot put, 100m, and 5,000m events, drawing a strong field of competitors from both the Masters and Open divisions. The Masters category included age groups ranging from 30-34 to 70-plus.
The 60m Masters races delivered some of the day’s most exciting action on the track.
In the Men’s 35-39 Division, Raymond Santos stole the spotlight by capturing the gold medal with the fastest time of the day, crossing the finish line in 7.57 seconds. Orrin Pharmin followed in second place with a time of 8.09 seconds.
In the Men’s 45-49 Division, James Lee secured the gold medal with a winning time of 8.45 seconds. Ponce Rasa earned silver in 8.62 seconds, while Long Yundang claimed bronze with a time of 9.06 seconds.
The Men’s 30-34 Division was led by Angel San Nicolas, who captured gold after clocking 9.06 seconds. Simon Necesito took silver with a time of 9.34 seconds.
The women’s divisions proved equally competitive. Christina Tudela claimed gold in the Women’s 30-34 category with a time of 10.70 seconds, while Krista Hawley topped the Women’s 55-59 Division with a winning mark of 10.27 seconds.
Moving from explosive sprints to middle-distance competition, the Open and Masters 800m races provided plenty of excitement.
In the Open Division, Austin Bucher set a strong pace from the start and pulled away from the field to win gold with a time of 2:14.56. Frank Lumanlan finished second in 2:22.66, while Grant Li rounded out the podium in third place with a time of 2:35.03.
The Masters runners also turned in impressive performances. Kurt Songsong claimed first place in the M35 (35-39) Division with a time of 3:35.73, while Joel Phair captured the M45 title after crossing the finish line in 2:47.59.
On the women’s side, Genelyn Lansangan delivered a strong performance to take first place with a time of 3:09.02.
In the field events, the Masters long jump tested both newcomers and veteran competitors, requiring precision, speed on the runway, and proper takeoff technique.
Joel Phair continued his productive meet by winning the M45 Division with a best leap of 4.52 meters. Leo Wania placed second with a jump of 2.75 meters. In the M50 Division, Gregory Borja recorded a winning leap of 4.03 meters, while Angel San Nicolas topped the M30 Division with a distance of 2.53 meters.
The opening day concluded with athletes receiving their medals and celebrating the longevity, health, and competitive spirit of the CNMI track and field community, setting a strong benchmark for the remainder of the meet.
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.
