By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
JODY O’Sullivan and Tammy Ackerman capped off the year with victories, finishing first in their respective divisions of Run Saipan’s Run From ’25 Mile Race, held Wednesday morning at the Oleai Sports Complex oval track.
This year’s signature community run shifted to the oval track, offering a unique mile race in which runners finished where they started.
Taking the spotlight was defending champion Jody O’Sullivan, who crossed the finish line first overall and atop the men’s division with a time of 5:34. He was followed by Victor Neil Santos, who placed second in 5:47, and Dave Odicta, who rounded out the podium in six minutes flat.
The women’s division saw Tammy Ackerman display dominance as she clocked 6:24 — more than a minute ahead of the competition — to claim first place. Nelly Min finished second with a time of 7:59, while Erricka Long placed third in 8:44.
Run Saipan Excellence Service Award
While the race delivered an adrenaline rush, the emotional heart of the event came during a special New Year’s Eve awards ceremony.
Jonathan Sagatan, a pillar of the Saipan running scene, was presented with the Run Saipan Excellence Service Award. His plaque recognized his “outstanding achievement, performance, service, commitment, and contribution to Run Saipan and the running community.”
“We started as a small group with big hearts and quickly turned into a nonprofit organization built on passion, volunteerism, and the belief that movement could unite people from all walks of life,” Sagatan said. “As I prepare to leave the island, I do so with immense pride and gratitude for how far this community has come. This is not a goodbye, but a see you later.”
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.
