Along with the athletes, several parents and board members also were present at the celebration. The board members included CNMI athletics’ head coach Elias Rangamar, Congressman Ray Tebuteb, Gordon Marciano, and a few others.
According to Rangamar, a total of 34 CNMI athletes participated in the Micronesian Games’ athletics competitions.
The females mainly dominated their events, with Yvonne Bennett breaking the 100, 200, and 400 meter records in the Micro Games. Yvonne finished the 100 m event with 12.6 seconds, while she dashed through the 200 m with 26.41. Yvonne and her twin Yvette Bennett were also involved in earning the CNMI more gold medals after placing first in the women’s 4×100 m and 4×400 m along with Relynn Sapong, Jacque Wonenberg, and Lia Rangamar.
Jacque Wonenberg received four gold medals and one silver, where she placed first in the women’s triple jump and the 400 m hurdles. Wonenberg received her silver medal after coming in second in the women’s javelin throw.
In addition to the CNMI athletics’ tallies were Mamiko Oshima-Berger, who placed first in the women’s 5k meter run and Jenequa Benavente, who dominated the women’s discus throw.
Jonavin Ichihara represented the males after winning gold in the men’s long jump, along with Trevor Ogumoro who earned bronze medals in the 100 m sprint octathlon, shot put octathlon, 110 m hurdles octathlon, and javelin throw octathlon.
As part of the ceremony, the NMA celebrated in commemoration of their athletes that will be leaving the island. Such athletes include the Bennett twins, who are set to attend Boise State University at Idaho.
Yvonne and Yvette Bennett both started practicing for the Micro Games since January, where they endured three practices a day for five days a week.
Yvonne was able to give remarks regarding her record-breaking success at Palau, noting that after she broke her first record, she was also confident that she could break the other records.
“Overall, that was my best performance, I went there knowing what I had to do, and I went there with an attitude that I was there to win. I was not sure if I was going to break records, but that was part of my main goal. The Micro Games were unforgettable and exciting, and it made me want to train harder.”
Like Yvonne, Yvette will be looking forward into the 2014 Pohnpei Micro Games, especially into basketball with her sister. Yvette said that aside from the field, school was also important to her and that running will always be in her heart.
Elias Rangamar was very proud with the team’s overall results, seeing that their hard work paid off with much success. Rangamar stated, “Some competitors were new, but part our program is to develop our younger athletes and give them the taste of competition. The Micro Games takes years of commitment and practice. You can’t just go to the Micro Games hoping that you’re going to win. We showed that we were one of the teams to beat, and that we proved it.”
Rangamar noted that he will miss coaching and guiding the runners, especially the twin track stars. “Sports are not only on the track or in the gym, but it is within us wherever we go and whatever we do.”
