OVER 400 people have signed up for Saipan International School’s Gecko 5000 set for Saturday at Banzai Cliff.
Saipan International School Headmaster Dr. Ron Snyder believes that over 200 will definitely show up for this year’s event.
This year, he said they have decided to do an out-and-back course with the start and finish line at Banzai Cliff instead of at Last Command Post as in previous years.
Also, this year’s event is not only for children. It will include a 5K fun run, open cross country races at World Athletics distances, women’s 6K and men’s 8K divisions.
In the elementary division, students will run 800 meters up the grass on the side of the road and then turn around and run back to the finish line while middle school students will cover the course twice.
The high school and fun run course will make the turn onto the side of the main road and run just past the turn toward Suicide Cliff for a 5K route.
For the Open Men’s and Open Women’s divisions, the participants will continue up the hill toward Suicide Cliff for their 8K and 6K courses, respectively.
“We have ordered more than a mile’s worth of step-in fence posts and ribbons to mark the course and keep students safe and directed. It will look pretty sharp!” Snyder said.
“I hope this event encourages more people to stay fit and put physical activity into their daily lives,” he added. “The all-schools elementary race takes this to heart and has unlimited entries. Middle school and high school students embrace the competitive team aspect of cross country so they are limited to six person teams as per Oceania Athletics rules.”
Snyder said their “many sponsors have helped us push this beyond an all-schools event and beyond an SIS community event. I am grateful for their support and am extremely humbled by the engagement we have received beyond our school.”
The Gecko 5000 is the first event of the Northern Marianas Athletics/Public School System Cross Country series.
“It is the first race of the All-Schools Cross Country series so it is an important part of school athletics,” Snyder said. “Beyond that, we have opened it up to the community with a fun run and open divisions so that everyone can experience running in Marpi in all its glory. We will have beautiful vistas and great community fellowship, all the while working toward a fitter CNMI. What more reason do we need?”
Participants of last year’s Gecko 5000 take off from the starting line at the Last Command Post in Marpi.
