Zarinae Sapong takes off during a practice session in the 100m event of the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary on Aug. 18.
NMI sprinter Zarinae Sapong may not have beaten her personal best during the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Aug. 20, but she said her overall performance represented a “season’s best.”
“While I wish I could have achieved a personal best, I do recognize that this is all part of an athlete’s journey,” she said. “I remain eager to continue my progression in athletics with a commitment to improvement.”
The 26-year-old finished with a time of 13.04, just a few milliseconds short of her current personal best of 12.98 in the 100m event.
It was Sapong’s fourth time competing in the World Athletics Championships, which, she said, got tougher with each year.
“Considering I had the privilege of competing at the world championships, the level of competition was undeniably higher,” Sapong said.
However, on the global stage, her experience continues to grow. “I’ve learned the importance of concentrating on my own performance, maintaining humility, and running my own race, regardless of the strength of the competition.” Sapong said.
She had prepared for the world championship since January, working closely with Coach Eli and a dedicated Northern Marianas Athletics team.
“During the past few months, I encountered some setbacks that truly tested my resilience,” she said. “Nevertheless, I remained focused on bouncing back and aimed to perform well. I’m especially grateful to have finished the competition in good health and look forward to sustaining this momentum to emerge stronger in the upcoming season.”
Sapong competed in the 2017, 2019 and 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon where she set her personal best record.
While in Budapest, Sapong was able to take in the local attractions and explore the city. “Fair warning, Budapest is hotter than Saipan,” she said in jest.
