“On behalf of the McDonalds family and PSS, I want to congratulate all of the winners today. Thank you for everything you’ve done during the past few months. I would like to thank Mr. Robin Sapong and Rey Tebuteb as well for helping us with this event,” said McDonald’s store manager Marcia Ayuyu.
“It is always great to have events like this to bring our families and our communities together,” Ayuyu added.
“The partnership between McDonalds and PSS has grown over the past years to ensure that we promote wellness within our community to make sure we know about diabetes, obesity, and other illnesses out there,” said Hopwood Jr. High School’s Principal Jonas Barcinas.
“I think promoting sports, especially track and field, will help our kids stay healthy that they may have healthy bodies and healthy minds so that they may excel in their studies,” Barcinas added.
He also thanked the competitors, their parents, school administrators, the volunteers, the legislature, and McDonalds for another successful year.
“We’ve been doing this event for more than 20 years. Me and Elias every year we go out and look for sponsors so one day we’re on the road trying to look for money. And McDonalds goes ‘what are you guys doing? I thought you guys were the Nationals team coach.’ Yes but we have to go out and look for sponsors. ‘Give me a paper, put it in writing and I’ll see what I can do.’ And it’s been for the past years the track has been going and McDonalds has been with us. Going on six years strong actually,” explained Northern Marianas Athletics’ Secretary General Robin Sapong.
Sapong also announced that as of Thursday last week, Yvonne Bennett recently broke a national record and was able to set another national record for Boise State University labeling it as a “huge success” for the program.
Sapong explained that Bennett walked into the NMA club one day as a volunteer runner and was then granted a track scholarship for Boise State University through hard work and practice. “If she can do it, I’m sure you guys can too,” added Sapong.
The top performers list included: Whisperings Palms Kasai Naoki and Kobler Elem. School’s Maya Ngemaes for the 8U boys and girls’ category.
Kobler Elem. School’s Coby Santos and Roca Kasian in the 10U boys and girls’ category were chosen. Tanapag Elem School’s Juan Quitugua Jr. and Saipan Community School’s Tammy Ackerman shined in the 12U boys and girls’ category.
Hopwood Junior High School’s Juan Babauta and Saipan Community School’s Lydin Johnson were named the top performers n the older 14U boys and girl’s.
Marianas High School shined once more with all of the competitors for the 18U boys and girls’ top competitor chosen from their roster.
It was a special situation in which Sapong explained that some things must be shared for two different people were recognized in each the boys and girls’ 18U category in the track division and field division. Jim Lacsina along with schoolmate Ryan Ichihara was recognized in the boys’ division while Liamwar Rangamar and fellow schoolmate Rachel Abrams were chosen for the girls’ division.
Lacsina garnered three gold medals and one silver while Ichihara bagged two gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze.
On the other hand, Rangamar reaped five gold medals in the long jump, javelin, discus, 4x100m, and 4x400m medley race while Abrams garnered five gold medals as well in the 100m dash, 200m dash, high jump, 4x100m, and 4x400m relay race.
