ALTHOUGH the NMA-PSS All School Cross Country series is focused on team-based performances, the best runners of the just concluded season were recognized as well on Saturday at the Saipan Vegas Country Club.
In the elementary school U9 category, Saipan International School and Brilliant Star School took over the spotlight. Taking gold were SIS’ Gabriel Walsh (12’19) and BSS’ Lovell Spaeth (11’40). The silver medalists were BSS’ Evan Poole (12’51) and SIS’ Scarlett Burrell (11’41) while SIS’ Jake Duenas (13’08) and Leilani Ruszala (12’12) received the bronze.
In the U12 category, the gold medalists were SIS’ Quido Jambor (11’15) and Oleai Elementary School’s Errika Long (14’53).
Receiving the silver medal were Agape Christian School’s Reyviel Escarlon (11’39) and Saipan Community School’s Hiyori Okuma (15’22) while Garapan Elementary School’s Kanoa Evans (11’53) and Mount Carmel School’s Stella Choi (15’30) brought home the bronze.
In the middle school category, the gold medalists were Grace Christian Academy’s Michael Miller (9’42) and Dandan Middle School’s Adalee Traflinger (11’04). The silver medalists were DMS’ Landen Traflinger (10’05) and ACS’ Barbara Wang (11’46) while ACS’ Raffy Cai (10’15) and Tanapag Middle School’s Sari Barman (12’05) received the bronze.
In the high school category, winning the gold were ACS’ Samuel Zhu (19’55) and SIS’ Kaithlyn Chavez (22’12) while Marianas High School’s Pony Tang (20’08) and SIS’ Tiana Cabrera (23’54) took silver. MHS’ Cody Shimazu (20’29) and ACS’ Eunice Xu (24’10) were the bronze medalists.
“As the [Northern Marianas Athletics] distance coach, I have been incredibly impressed with the development of all the athletes on island over the course of the season,” said SIS Coach and Headmaster Dr. Ron Snyder.
“Dandan Middle School is definitely an up-and-coming powerhouse and GCA has made a tremendous splash onto the scene. This year saw an even split between SIS and Agape in the trophies and that makes me very happy as the SIS coach/headmaster. The Agape HS boys and the SIS HS girls have dominated for many years but there is competition coming. The SIS elementary teams saw an undefeated season under Coach Kathy Ruszala and I am proud of their dedication and attitude. The middle school [category] was very competitive this year and I couldn’t predict the outcome at all going into the championship. DMS, ACS, SCS, SIS, GCA have all had successes in the qualifying meets. ACS MS boys ended up the clear winner at the championship but the girls’ results were very mixed throughout the season and the finals saw ACS pull it out with three points to spare. This will be a division to watch in the 2023 school year!”
Samuel Zhu, Pony Tang and Cody Shimizu are top three finishers in the high school category of the NMA-PSS All School Cross Country Championships at the Saipan Vegas Country Club on Saturday.
Lovell Spaeth, Scarlett Burrell and Leilani Ruszala are the top three finishers in the elementary school U9 category of the NMA-PSS All School Cross Country Championships at the Saipan Vegas Country Club on Saturday.
