“I just really want to have my PB (personal best) time, set a new time and beat the old one,” said Iguel Jr., a 21 year-old hailing from Sadog Tasi, who is competing in three events including the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4×1 relay.
“This moment right now for me is a once in a life time. Not many people can do this. I mean, having the chance to compete with these are athletes is amazing,” he said.
“This is what I’ve trained for, and really, I just want to show that training I’ve done and do my best. But though, with work and stuff, all that I could train was around three times a week, but I know I would be much better if I had trained more in those six months of training,” he added.
Rangamar, a 20 year-old athlete competing in the triple jump competition says, “It is hard to win a metal, but just like Louis, I want my PB time. But, besides that, I really want to say that the experience learning from these other athletes is great. It’s like taking the qualities they’ve learned and apply it to mine.”
“I do sports because it keeps me fit and healthy. It makes me real and knowing I’ve competed in Oceania itself is a great accomplishment,” he said.
Wonenberg is determined to do much better than her previous Oceania competition in Samoa two years ago.
The 16 year-old teen athlete from Marianas High School is doing 20 events this week, not including the semi-finals and finals.
“I competed in 2006 and that was a great experience as to how it was my first, but now, I feel more stressed,” said Wonenberg.
“This is my home and I want to represent it with the best I can do. This year’s competition is harder. I had only four events back then, and now I have a lot,” she said.
Basically, she will be competing every day throughout the week.
“I mean, it’s exhausting and I’m going to deal with it. I am going to be focused and set new PB’s. It’s going to be hard…I’m going to be running from event to event, but I love it!” she said.
As for the international athletes, Wonenberg said, “I feel very privileged and excited to talk to them. It’s so fun because I met them back at Samoa and how I always see them. So now, the other athletes from the other islands are old friends of mine,” she laughs.
Iguel Jr. says, “It’s not a big thing for me when I compete with the other athletes. They’ve trained so much. Our coach is volunteering to be there for us. Right now for me, everything is a learning experience.”
“I want to show coach that I’m going to do my best and make up and coming athletes realize that when you train more and be consistent, you’ll be just like them,” he said.
“Winning something here in Oceania would be the best thing in the world,” he smiled. “I just want to say thanks to my coach Elias Rangamar and Robin Sapong,” he added.
Wonenberg agrees, saying that “This is all a challenge. We just need to be focused and know that this is intended for fun. Sports keep me active and just really happy. There is this motto that I really like and would want other people to know… ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is courage to commit is what counts’…I like that.”
