Iguel who received honorable welcome at the Francisco Ada International Airport on his arrival last Wednesday, disclosed in an interview yesterday that among five events a participating athlete can compete, he ran only in 100-meter sprint.
“I just wanted to concentrate on that event,” he said, adding that it was a good experience to compete in such a world class event for the first time.
Iguel said he finished the 100 meter in 11.70 seconds, breaking his NMI record of 11.82 seconds. He competed against athletes from nine countries including United States, Russia, Equador, Japan, China and Jamaica.
Two years ago, Tyrone Omar represented CNMI and broke his own record in the same tournament.
“I feel good but I think I need more training,” he said.
Left the island on Saturday to start his voyage to Bydgoszcz, Poland and participate in the IAAF World Junior Championships that was held from July 8 to 11.
He had to fly to Guam first before taking another flight to South Korea where he flew again to Paris and began his land travel Poland.
Iguel finished the 100 meter run in 11.82 seconds during the 2008 Oceania Grand Prix Series and ran 11.91 and 11.92 seconds in two rounds of Oceania Championship.
While in Bygoszcz, Iguel said he had an opportunity to meet U.S. sprinter and 100-meter workd record holder, Michael Johnson and 400-meter record holder, Morris Green.
Both world class runners signed his note for an autograph.
Aside from Iguel the other Pacific Island athletes who are heading to Poland are Isoa Me of Fiji, Douglas Schmidt of Palau, Shirley Vunatup of Papua New Guinea, Margaret Satupai of Samoa, Emile Nisap of Vanuatu, Kenneth Karosich of Guam, Dayne O’Hara of Norfolk Island, Thomas Slowinski of French Polynesia, Adison Alfred of Solomon Islands, Dana Thoma of Nauru, Paseka Fangupo of Tonga, and Jeffrey Tago of American Samoa.
