The winners of the costume contest pose for a photo with avid runners and Star Wars fans Dr. Ronald Snyder, left, Saipan International School headmaster, and Dr. Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero, Northern Marianas College president, right.
Runners take off from the starting line of Run Saipan’s 4th Annual “May The 4th Be With You” Star Wars Day Run at American Memorial Park on Saturday morning.
IN a galaxy far away, Jordan Ruiz and Kaithlyn Chavez led the battle against the dark side and finished first in their respective divisions of Run Saipan’s 4th Annual “May the 4th Be With You” Star Wars Day Run on Saturday morning.
From American Memorial Park to the Gov. Eloy S. Inos Peace Park and back, it was Jordan Ruiz who crossed the finish line first, leading the men’s division with a time of 19:26 followed by Joel Phair at 19:28, and Landan Taflinger at 19:44.03.
In the women’s division, Kaithlyn Chavez came out on top with a time of 20:45 while Addalee Taflinger came in second at 23:37. Ann Bang finished third at 24:19.
Aside from the race, participants also had the chance to dress up as Star Wars characters to compete in a costume contest.
Cortland Winkfield stole the show as the first-place winner dressed as the Mandalorian, taking home $100. In second place were Scott Smith and Tammy Ackerman, who were dressed as Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa to win $50 while John Morena as Count Dooku placed third and received $25.
This year, Run Saipan partnered with CHCCs Public Health Division. In honor of Adolescent Health Month, they sponsored 100 adolescent entries (ages 12-18) for this year’s Star Wars race.
“Thank you to Heather Pangelinan and Tony Yarobwemal for partnering with us,” said Run Saipan President Edward Dela Cruz Jr. “This is one of the great ways organizations can help donate. Instead of donating directly they can sponsor entries like what CHCC did. Thank you CHCC. We hope they’ll run it again next year with us.”
