By James Sablan
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
UNDER the early morning glow of Valentine’s Day, resilient runners did not reach for chocolates or flowers — they took on the heartbreak hills of Mt. Tapochau, where Landen Taflinger and Shawna Brennfleck were dubbed the king and queen of elevation after finishing first in their respective divisions of the 2026 Heartbreak 5K Run hosted by Run Saipan last Saturday.
For the first time, the grueling hill climb transitioned from a segment of the “Trinity” race series to a standalone event.
The race started at Iseta CT off Route 312, Capitol Hill Road, near the PSS Federal Grants Office, and ended at the peak of Mt. Tapochau.
In the men’s division, Taflinger, a consistent top contender on the local circuit, navigated the steep and rugged terrain at a pace that left the competition trailing, crossing the finish line at the summit in 25:44.
Frank Lumanlan secured second place with a time of 29:06, while Zian Sinday rounded out the podium at 30:48.
In the women’s race, Brennfleck claimed the top spot in 33:52. She maintained a steady climb and comfortably led Angela Taflinger, who finished second in 38:22. An Bang took third place with a time of 40:51.
The U18 category also drew attention. Kaide Benson posted an impressive 33:14, followed by Brayden Brennfleck in 36:58 and Sirjoe Castro in 55:40.
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.
