JUN Kawano and Tam A were the first-place winners of the July 4th Independence Day 2-Mile Race 2025, hosted by Run Saipan and sponsored by Latte Built on Friday morning.
The race began in front of the Latte Built gym on Beach Road in Chalan Kanoa, stretching to the turnaround point at the Liberation Day parade review stand in Susupe and back.
Leading the pack was Jun Kawano, who finished first overall and first in the men’s division with a time of 13:46, followed by Joel Phair at 13:52, and Pete Phair at 13:55.
In the women’s division, Tam A secured first place with a time of 14:53, followed by An Bang at 15:58, and Rosemarie Chisato at 16:17.
“This was still a beautiful turnout — we had over 50 participants,” said Run Saipan resident Edward Dela Cruz Jr.
“The location was a long time in the making. I was not going to do a start line until [Latte Built owner] Derek Cutting had a permanent location,” he added.
With the location deemed safe and usable by Dela Cruz, Run Saipan now has a southside race venue in Chalan Kanoa.
Derek Cutting was one of the first to sponsor Run Saipan, even before it became a nonprofit. Because he was one of the original supporters, Cutting was given the honor of choosing the race distance. He opted for two miles in tribute to the U.S. Army 2-Mile Fitness Test.
“It’s a lot shorter than a 5K or a 10K — that extra miler makes a big difference. We’re trying to cover all distances,” said Dela Cruz.
He thanked this reporter and Marianas Variety for always sharing their stories, as well as Derek Cutting and Latte Built, Northern Marianas Athletics, Saipan International School, DPS, and Brad Ruszala of NMI News Service.
Brian Li poses with Run Saipan’s Simon Necesito and Edward Dela Cruz Jr. along with Latte Built owner Derek Cutting as the winner of the theme costume challenge of the July 4th Independence Day 2-Mile Race 2025 at the Latte Built gym on Friday morning.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
The Top 3 finishers of the men’s and women’s divisions pose for a photo at the conclusion of the July 4th Independence Day 2-Mile Race 2025 at the Latte Built gym on Friday morning.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
Participants of the July 4th Independence Day 2-Mile Race 2025 pose for a photo at the Latte Built gym on Beach Road in Chalan Kanoa, Friday morning.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
