By James Sablan
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE shores of Paupau Beach were buzzing with energy Saturday morning as local athletes took part in the CNMI Sprint Triathlon and 5K — the first CNMI event allowing eligible residents (minimum two years) to qualify for the 2026 World Triathlon Age-Group Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.
The event, organized by the Triathlon Association of the CNMI, marked a significant return for the local multisport community, drawing a diverse crowd of seasoned veterans and enthusiastic newcomers eager for a taste of international-level competition.
The morning featured a variety of distances to accommodate all skill levels, including the standard Sprint, a shorter Super Sprint, a 5K run, and the ever-popular Kids Triathlon.
Top spots
In the Sprint distance event, Christian Villacrusis and Lily Muldoon claimed the top spots in their respective divisions.
Villacrusis, a former competitive swimmer turned triathlete, was cheered on by spectators as he showcased the discipline that has made him one of the island’s top competitors, finishing first in the male division with an impressive time of 1:12:46. Following him were Michael Denevan in 1:14:53 and veteran runner Jody O’Sullivan in third with 1:17:32.
In the female division, Lily Muldoon remains the athlete to beat as she dominated the field with another first-place finish, clocking 1:15:19. She was joined on the podium by Shawna Brennfleck (1:19:59) and Robyn Spaeth (1:30:46).
Standout
The Super Sprint race featured a similar but shorter route and was highlighted by a standout performance from 13-year-old Philip Seman, who won the male division with a time of 27:42.
Despite finding the run portion challenging due to the steep hills along the course, the young swimmer said he joined the event just for fun.
“My asthma started to trigger halfway through, but it was really fun. It was a good chance to work out,” Seman said. “I think I did pretty alright.”
Declan Spaeth finished second in 29:20, followed by Brayden Brennfleck in 30:51.
In the female division, LoVel Spaeth took first place with a time of 27:57, followed by Clair Fehrenbacker (34:20) and Yu Xi Zhang (44:24).
Other winners
Also taking the spotlight were winners in the 5K run, Kids Triathlon, and relay race.
Kensuke Okuma led the male division in the 5K run with a time of 26:40, followed by Andrew Estepa (29:26) and Ronaldo Quindoza (30:12). In the female division, Kathleen Tolentino placed first in 29:46, followed by Shiela Isla (36:38).
In the Kids Triathlon, Huck Bauer won the 9U boys division, followed by Jace Brennfleck, Mika McKagen, and Nico O’Sullivan. In the 6U division, Zeka Bauer led the field, followed by Jasper Davis and Niko Thorne.
In the relay event, Saipan Little Three — consisting of Jiaen Feng, Jialiang Nie, and Zixu Chen — claimed first place with a time of 1:44:45. Happy Trio, composed of Saiwen Wu, Panpan Zhang, and Yue Ying, finished second in 1:53:40.
Milestone
Kathy Ruszala, TRAC secretary, noted a milestone for the event as adult participation — 28 athletes in the Sprint alone — surpassed the number of youth participants for the first time.
“It’s not an easy sport — it’s three sports in one, and any sport requires discipline and dedication,” Ruszala said. “We are so happy — everyone’s caught the ‘tri-bug’ again.”
Ruszala added that the goal is to bring triathlon back to the CNMI and eventually see athletes competing internationally in events such as those in Tahiti or the Oceania Games.
The momentum from the race is expected to carry into next month as TRAC prepares for its official Olympic Distance Triathlon on April 12.
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.
