By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
AS the holiday season reaches its peak, Northern Marianas Athletics is gearing up for one of the island’s most cherished sporting traditions: the Annual Christmas Island Relay, set to return this Saturday, promising a blend of high-level competition and community festive spirit.
The race, which has become a staple of the year-end calendar, offers a unique challenge that combines individual grit with team strategy. Hundreds of running enthusiasts are expected to burn off the Christmas calories along Saipan’s western coast while tackling the scenic 13.7-mile course. The route begins at the Pacific Islands Club in San Antonio and traces a path northward along the coast, ending at the Last Command Post in Marpi.
The annual race is designed to be inclusive, catering to both elite athletes and casual joggers, with this year’s event featuring two primary formats: Team Relay and Solo.
The Team Relay consists of two divisions: open mixed teams and youth mixed teams. Open mixed teams are composed of five runners who compete in one-mile stages. Each team must include at least one member who is either 16 years old or younger, or 40 years of age and older, and at least one member of the opposite gender.
Youth mixed teams (16 and under) must include at least one female or one participant aged 12 and under. A maximum of 30 team slots is available. Runners under 18 must obtain parental or guardian approval to participate.
For those looking to test their personal limits, the full 13.7-mile course is open to solo runners. The Solo format will begin at 5:30 a.m., followed by the Team Relay at 6:00 a.m.
Teams are responsible for providing their own support vehicles and water. The relay exchange is a classic tag-off involving a physical baton, adding a layer of traditional track-and-field excitement to the road race.
The Annual Christmas Island Relay is just one of many activities and events that NMA hosts in its continued efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle in the community. “We invite everyone to join us and help inspire as many people as possible to get moving, contributing to a healthier, more active world through sport,” NMA stated.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
