Jacinta Sumagaysay and Anniegail Manuel finished first and second in the open division 71kg weight class of the Marianas Cup 2023 Saturday at the Ada gym.
Nissi Lujan, center, Devine Pua, left, and Katie Camacho pose with their medals in the open division 64kg weight class of the Marianas Cup 2023 Saturday at the Ada gym.
THANKS to its female weightlifters who won seven gold medals on Saturday, Guam bested the CNMI in this year’s Marianas Cup at Ada gym.
The female open division was where Guam gathered most of its gold medals.
In the solo acts, Erika Camacho started Guam’s collection by claiming gold in the 49kg weight class with her best Snatch of 50kg and Clean & Jerk of 75kg for a total weight of 125kg.
Chloe Santos earned the visiting team’s second gold in the 55kg weight class where she recorded a Snatch of 64kg and Clean & Jerk of 74kg for a total weight of 138kg.
Another Guamanian, Nissi Lujan topped the 64kg weight class with a Snatch of 48kg and Clean & Jerk of 65kg for a total weight of 113kg while Jacinta Sumagaysay collected the island’s fourth gold in the 71kg weight class with a Snatch of 81kg and Clean & Jerk of 105kg for a total weight of 186kg.
“Honestly, I love coming to Saipan, and I’m glad we were invited to compete. For the longest time, Saipan always came to Guam to compete so we’re showing our support by coming here and competing,” Sumagaysay said. “Every competition is always different and in this one, I [set a new personal record]…. It was overall a great experience and a great turnout,” she added.
For the CNMI, Cheyanne Manuel won gold in the 59kg weight class with a Snatch of 63kg and Clean & Jerk of 78kg for a total weight of 141kg while team mate Pipit Ball earned silver with a Snatch of 51kg and Clean & Jerk of 70kg for a total weight of 121.
Guam’s Marina Babauta took bronze with a Snatch of 53kg and Clean & Jerk of 68kg to share a total weight of 121kg.
Antonette Labausa collected the CNMI’s second gold in the 81kg weight class with a Snatch of 75kg and Clean & Jerk of 100 for a total weight of 175kg while team mate Riella Ichiou won silver with a Snatch of 70kg and Clean & Jerk of 85kg for a total weight of 155kg.
In the youth/junior division, Guam’s eight-year-old Mariah Lujan, the youngest competitor, earned gold in the 40kg weight class where she lifted a Snatch of 14kg and Clean & Jerk of 18kg for a total weight of 32kg.
Marina Babauta, also from Guam, topped the 59kg weight class with a Snatch of 53kg and Clean & Jerk of 68kg for a total weight of 121kg while Guam’s Nissi Lujan earned her second gold medal in the 64kg weight class with a Snatch of 48kg and Clean & Jerk of 65kg for a total weight of 113kg.
Manuel Anniegail was the only female CNMI weightlifter who won gold in the 71kg weight class with a Snatch of 65kg and Clean & Jerk of 80kg for a total weight of 145kg.
With a total of 15 gold medals, Guam ruled Marianas Cup 2023.
In the men’s open division, the CNMI and Guam won five gold medals each while in the male youth and junior divisions, the CNMI and Guam won three gold medals each.
“This was the first, but hopefully not the last, collegial test for the two teams,” CNMI Weightlifting Federation President John Davis said.
“Though they [Guam] were a smaller visiting team, they were also more experienced. Nevertheless, the CNMI weightlifters gave them a run for the money. CNMI weightlifters are looking forward to turning the tables next year and bringing the Cup back to the CNMI. The focus of the CNMI team has now shifted to the Solomon Pacific Games,” he added.
