Agape Youth Team 1, center, Team Santa Youth 2023, left, and Agape Youth Team 2 pose for a photo with their finisher medals during the awards ceremony of the Annual Christmas Island Relay hosted by Northern Marianas Athletics at Micro Beach on Saturday.
AGAPE Christian School not only bagged the open mixed team division title of the Christmas Island Relay on Saturday, but the youth mixed team division title as well.
Agape Youth Team 1 crossed the finish line first with a time of 1:21.41 at Micro Beach.
Team captain Daniel Song and the rest of the Agape runners went up against tough competition. After completing the first checkpoint of the course, Song managed to seize the lead by about 100 meters, but lost it to Team Santa Youth 2023 after the turnaround.
However, Team Santa Youth 2023 suddenly went off course, which handed Agape Youth Team 1 the opportunity to retake control and finish first.
“The course was pretty good,” Song said. “Having a turning point, you get familiar with the course, and it was easier to know which runner should go first and who goes last.”
As a team comprised of runners as young as 12, they attributed their victory to God.
Team Santa Youth 2023 led by seasoned runner Kaithlyn Chavez came in second with a time of 1:22.54 while Agape Youth Team 2 led by team captain Benny Li finished third with a time of 1:27.52.
