This year’s Oceania Regional Championship that will gather athletes from all over Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia is going to be the last major sports event that Mancao will be participating, at least for now, because he is going to college in the coming school year in Guam.
So, the young athlete who led his team to an XTERRA relay victory two months ago is making the most out of every opportunity to practice with the rest of the 12 athletes that CNMI is sending to Queensland for the Oceania meet that will be held in Aug 4, 6 and 8.
He and his co-athletes, Mancao said continue to get
rigid training with coach, Elias Rangamar. He will be competing in 3,000-meter steeple race, 1,500-meter run, 5,000-meter run, 10,000-meter run and 800-meter run.
Mancao competed in many events during the Oceania Championship held here last year, but not in the steeple race which eventually became his point of interest.
This time, he said he knows he will have better chance in steeple race and the thought of having another CNMI top performer Ketson Jack Kabiriel by his side, adds up to his confidence.
“I’m focusing on my speed and endurance,” he said.
Mancao placed fourth in the Cross Country run during the Oceania Championship that Saipan hosted last year.
His team up with Rezne Wong and Renato Calage won the XTERRA relay last April.
