The top three winners in the female and male divisions pose with Run Saipan officials during the awards ceremony of the Mangrove 5K Run at American Memorial Park.
Rosemarie Chisato smiles as she crosses the finish line of Run Saipan’s Mangrove 5K Run Saturday at American Memorial Park.
Young Jun Lin, right, passes Chong Nam Lee to finish first in Run Saipan’s Mangrove 5K Run Saturday at American Memorial Park.
YOUNG Jun Lin and Rosemarie Chisato finished first in their respective divisions of Run Saipan’s third annual Mangrove 5K Run on Saturday morning at American Memorial Park.
The route was switched around from American Memorial Park to the Inos Peace Park and back, but it was still the same routine for Chisato who had participated in the past two races. She was the first to cross the finish line in the female division with a time of 00:23:43.
Chisato did not have a great start, and trailed Terra Allen throughout the first half of the race. Fortunately, after the turnaround, Chisato took over with Allen finishing second with a time of 00:23:55.
In third place was Jessica Ortizo who clocked 00:26:25.
“It was not hard — it was practically the same route.” said Chisato. “I thought it was going to be raining today but the weather was great,” she added.
Male division
In the male division, 14-year-old Hopwood student Young Jin Lin was the top runner with a finish time of 00:22:11. In second place was veteran barefoot runner Chong Nam Lee who clocked 00:22:12 while Shigeki Tenorio came in third at 00:22:18.
“It was kind of hard to run, but it was near the sea, so it was also cool,” Lin said. He started running two years ago and began to take the sport seriously last year, inspired by fellow Run Saipan member Changwhan Jang.
Each of the top three winners in each division received a medal and a potted plant to signify Run Saipan’s environmental stewardship.
Run Saipan is also participating in a mangrove nursery this summer in cooperation with American Memorial Park.
