Lily Muldoon, right, smiles as she crosses the finish line of the 2023 NMA Mt. Tapochao Turkey Trot on Thursday.
Victor Nash Santos pushes through the finish line of the 2023 NMA Mt. Tapochao Turkey Trot on Thursday.
LILY Muldoon and Victor Nash Santos finished first in their respective divisions in the 2023 Northern Marianas Athletics Mt. Tapochao Turkey Trot race on Thursday morning.
In the women’s division, Muldoon cleared the 6K uphill battle quick as she finished first with a time of 44:46.38. “Overall, the race this year was fantastic,” she said. “It felt good to be running with friends, their families and fellow Run Saipan members. The combination of the challenging course, good weather, and the gorgeous view of the sunrise over the ocean made it a memorable experience. The energy from the participants and the overall atmosphere added to the enjoyment,” Muldoon added.
“I ran at just about the same pace as my last Turkey Trot and I’m thankful I’m not getting slower!” she said.
Muldoon recently experienced an injury during her work in Chuuk in September.
“Recovering from an injury always takes time,” she said, “so I expected it to be a gradual process to get back into my regular rhythm. Rejoining running after such a hiatus was a challenge, but I’m grateful for the progress I’ve made and the ability to participate in events like the Saipan Turkey Trot.”
She added, “This year, I’m incredibly thankful to be able to run again. After being sidelined for seven weeks, being able to move my body freely and participate in events like the Saipan Turkey Trot is a gift. It has given me a renewed appreciation for the simple joy of running and being active. Overall, I’m grateful for my health, the support of those around me, and the opportunity to pursue my passion for running. I’m also thankful for the Run Saipan community. Last weekend I had slated to run the Mt. Tapochao route but woke up to pouring rain and decided not to go. Then three Run Saipan members posted on our group chat their picture on top of the mountain and I thought to myself, ‘I can do that too!’ So, I put on my sneakers and ran to the top in the rain. It built confidence to get that last big run before race day. Thank you, Run Saipan ladies, for your inspiration!”
Overall first place
The top male runner, 15-year-old Victor Nash Santos, finished first overall.
It was the Mt. Carmel School sophomore’s first time competing in the annual race, which he described as “the hardest race that I have competed in.”
Initially, Santos trailed the previous year’s winner, Keith Longuski, but took the lead midway through the course to finish first with a time of 39:48.88.
When asked why he joined the Turkey Trot, Santos answered, “I just wanted to win a turkey and give it to my friends.”
Running is a familiar scene for Santos, who competed in the recently concluded All School Cross Country series.
This year, Santos said he is thankful for his friends and family. “Especially to my dad. He got off work early and took me here to look at the course and, without that, I wouldn’t know when to sprint and slow down,” Santos said.
Age group winners
• U12 — Quido Jambor (49:59.56) and Kaylen Taflinger (58:23.78)
• U17 — Jireh Wang (41:36.88) and Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez (46:10.70)
• 30-39 — Keith Longuski (40:01.31) and Savannah Grant (55:11.78)
• 40-49 — Chad Taflinger (48:17.78) and Shawna Brennfleck (52:19.98)
• 50-59 — Abuy James (54:25.84) and Jessica Ortizo (56:44.34)
• 60 and over group — Jeff Race (not Chong Nam Lee as earlier reported) (01:02:29) and Elizabeth Kohnen (01:03:21)
The top finishers of each age group won a frozen turkey.
A total of 165 runners participated in the event.
The participants pose for a photo after completing the 2023 NMA Mt. Tapochao Turkey Trot on Thursday.
Photos by James F. Sablan Jr.
