WITH over 30 teams and 160 participants, this year’s Christmas Island Relay held on Saturday was a great success, Northern Marianas Athletics General Secretary Robin Sapong said.
“On behalf of NMA President Ray Tebuteb, Race Director Edward Dela Cruz Jr., Elias Malite Rangamar and the board members, we would like to thank all of our sponsors — DPS, 9th MSC, Marpac, Triple J and most importantly, our awesome NMI community — for making our events possible and successful. Wishing everyone a joyful holiday, Merry Christmas and above all, a prosperous and healthy 2023,” Sapong added.
New record
Overall first-place winner Run Saipan Alpha, consisting of Tania Tan, Keith Ketola, Sildrey Veloria, Keith Longuski and Heimanarii Lai San, not only took the title with a time of 01:19.5, but broke the previous record of 01:24.22 that was set by Agape Christian School in 2000.
The rest of the open mixed team race results:
2) Agape Torchbearers 1 (01:21.3)
3) Agape Torchbearers 2, (01:28.1)
4) Team Santa 2022 Open (01:29.5)
5) Rex’s Team (01:32.1)
6) Baby Got Track (01:33.6)
7) SPC (01:34.0)
8) Run Saipan Team Bravo (01:35.2)
9) Sleighers (01:36.6)
10) Geckos Run For Their Breakfast (01:41.0)
11) Team Taffy (01:42.2)
12) Run Saipan Pacemakers (01:45.2)
13) Silent Knights (01:46.1)
14) Spaeth Force (01:49.1)
15) Run Saipan Team AJA (01:54.5)
16) thisiswhatiwanttodoonxmaseve (02:00.4)
17) Yuletide Yinzers (02:01.6, 21)
18) Team Dolphins (02:04.5)
19) Team Elliott (02:10.6)
20) Team U.S Flag, Team CNMI Flag, and Team 9th MSC Flag (02:15.2)
21) Geminis Rising (02:19.2)
22) #Beastmates (02:23.3)
23) Happy Go Runners (02:28.4)
24) Buns&Guns (02:46.3)
25) Buns&Guns-Dos (02:53.6).
In the youth mixed team category, Team Santa 2022 consisting of Andrei Chavez, Pony Tang, Zhixiang Lin, Nolan Ngewakl and Marcus Toves claimed the top spot with a finish time of 01:25:13.
Agape Youth 1 finished second with a time of 01:27.1; Agape Youth 2 came in third (01:36.3); DMS Tottots were fourth, (02:00.0) and the Elves on the Shelves were fifth (02:13.1).
“It is also good to see new faces joining us for the first time,” Sapong said. “We hope they enjoyed the experience as one of our goals is promoting athletics for a healthy and fit CNMI.”
The participants of Northern Marianas Athletics’ Annual Christmas Island Relay pose for a group photo Saturday at the Last Command Post in Marpi.
