THE Public School System, along with Northern Marianas Athletics and McDonald’s Saipan and Guam, honored the top athletes of each age group for their outstanding performances in the McDonald’s-PSS All School Track and Field (Athletics) SY23-24 season that concluded last month.
The awards ceremony, which was held at McDonald’s Chalan Kiya on Thursday last week, was led by Public School System’s Athletics Program Director Nick Gross, Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, Board of Education member Gregory Borja, and Northern Marianas Athletics’ Elias Rangamar.
Jireh Wang of Agape Christian School, which has again won the overall title, was named the U18 male MVP. He earned two gold medals in the 1500m and 3000 events and another gold in the 4×400 relay while earning a silver in the 800m distance.
It was not an easy feat, Wang said, adding that he expected Marianas High School’s Cody Shimizu to claim the crown for the second year in a row.
Wang’s toughest event was the 1500m. “But God gave me the strength to keep going, so I give all glory to God,” he said.
Now that he is already 18, Wang will not be able to join the next all school track and field season, but he will see action in the PSS/NMA All School Cross Country next school year. “It’s my last chance to train myself and get a good score again,” Wang said.
As for his school’s repeat title, Wang said, “We have a lot of runners, and fortunately, Marianas High School didn’t have their complete team in the championship.”
In the female division, Kaithlyn Chavez earned her third consecutive MVP title by collecting four gold medals in the 400m, 800m, 1500m, and 3000m events. She was never bested in the races she competed.
In middle school, Saipan International School’s Addalee Taflinger was the U14 female MVP for winning gold in the 400m, 800m, 1500, 3000m and 4x100m events.
For his part, ACS’ Raffy Cai is the male MVP awardee. He won gold in the 800m, 1500m, 3000m, and 4x400m events, a silver in the 400m and bronze in the 4x100m.
A total of 728 athletes joined this season.
In his closing remarks, Education Commissioner Camacho said, “The Public School System is really grateful for the opportunity to partner with McDonald’s and all the fine contributions that you had over the years. For the parents who’ve come, we really appreciate the support in making sure that your kids are competing at this level. And thanks to Nick for arranging this and the many other things we have across the Public School System and making sure we have opportunities for the kids when it comes to athletics and interscholastic competition.”
U18 male MVP Jireh Wang, center, poses for a photo with a McDonald’s Saipan employee, Northern Marianas Athletics’ Elias Rangamar, Board of Education member Greg Borja and Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho during the McDonald’s-PSS All Schools Track and Field (Athletics) SY23-24 awards ceremony at McDonald’s Chalan Kiya on Thursday last week.
U18 female MVP Kaithlyn Chavez, center, poses for a photo with a McDonald’s Saipan employee, Northern Marianas Athletics’ Elias Rangamar, Board of Education member Greg Borja and Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho during the McDonald’s-PSS All Schools Track and Field (Athletics) SY23-24 awards ceremony at McDonald’s Chalan Kiya on Thursday last week.
U14 male MVP Raffy Cai poses for a photo with a McDonald’s Saipan employee, Northern Marianas Athletics’ Elias Rangamar, Board of Education member Greg Borja and Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho during the McDonald’s-PSS All Schools Track and Field (Athletics) SY23-24 awards ceremony at McDonald’s Chalan Kiya on Thursday last week.
