James Munnis finishes first overall in the Run Saipan Labor Day Half Marathon 2024 at American Memorial Park on Saturday morning.
Moira crosses the finish line of the Run Saipan Labor Day Half Marathon 2024 at American Memorial Park on Saturday morning.
JAMES Munnis and Moira Mailed finished first in their respective divisions of the Run Saipan Labor Day Half Marathon 2024 at American Memorial Park on Saturday morning.
The race began at 5 a.m. at American Memorial Park, proceeded to Wing Beach, and then returned to the starting point.
First overall was a 59-year-old United Airlines pilot, James Munnis, who clocked at 01:42:15 followed by Joel Phair at 1:43:21, and Raven Lantz at 1:50:56.
Munnis said he did not lead the entire race but gradually moved to the front of the group after the turnaround point and finished strong. “I felt really good — but it was really hard and really hot,” Munnis said. For him, the hardest part of the course was the first half. “It gradually went uphill and that was tough but coming back was a little more comfortable,” he added.
Munnis usually runs two or three marathons or ultras every year, but since moving to Saipan from West Virginia in January with his fiancée, Krista Hawley, he has not had the opportunity to continue his yearly tradition.
But he said they have been slowly working their way back to marathon distance by competing in a 5K race on Guam and a 10K event on Saipan prior to the half marathon.
They also plan to do a full marathon on Rota in January 2025.
Women’s division
In the women’s division, Moira Guian Mailed claimed first place with a time of 1:54:50 followed by Krista Hawley, who clocked at 1:59:55, and Ann Bang at 2:12:41.
A 24-year-old U.S. Army engineer stationed on Guam, Mailed heard that her coworker was going to compete in the Run Saipan Half Marathon and decided to come along with seven others.
Mailed said it was her very first half marathon race. “This is the longest I have ever run,” she added. “Since last year, it has been one of my goals to run a half or full marathon.”
Mailed said her greatest challenge was not the course itself, but the “battle within.” “Honestly, it was pushing myself to go faster and see what my pace was. I had never run this distance before so I was figuring out how fast I should go,” Mailed said. For the first half of the race, she was trying to keep up with one of her coworkers who ran cross-country in college.
When asked how she felt after winning first place, she answered, “I’m honestly surprised but extremely grateful that I get to move my body this way and have the opportunity to travel and see new places.”
Mailed added, “I know that fitness at an early age sets the tone for your fitness throughout your life so I would definitely want to do more of this.” She now believes she could take on a full marathon.
Participants take off from the starting point of the Run Saipan Labor Day Half Marathon 2024 at American Memorial Park on Saturday morning.
Sponsors
Run Saipan, for its part, would like to thank its major sponsor, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation for sponsoring 50 runners.
“This is the third race of the year that our hospital has committed to sponsoring a healthier lifestyle for the community with us,” said Run Saipan President Edward Dela Cruz Jr.
He also recognized the other sponsors: Cha Café, Atkins Kroll Saipan, IT&E, Aqua Resort, The Water Company, Speaker Edmund Villagomez, Vice Speaker Joel Camacho, Rep. Thomas John Manglona and Rep. Malcom Omar.
“Thank you, too, to our volunteers, race staff, partners: Northern Marianas Athletics, the Department of Public Safety, the Marianas Visitors Authority, the HD Weightlifting Academy, the Saipan Southern High School Interact Club, the American Red Cross-NMI Chapter, Marianas Variety and Saipan Tribune,” Dela Cruz said.
He noted that it was also the first event where Shirley’s famous fried rice was served at the finish line for runners.
