Jody O’Sullivan celebrates as he finishes first overall in Run from 2023 at Smiling Cove Marina on Sunday morning.
Kaithlyn Chavez heads to the finish line of Run Saipan’s Run from 2023 1-mile race on Sunday morning at Smiling Cove Marina.
JODY O’Sullivan ended the year with a bang by finishing first in Run Saipan’s Run from 2023 and setting a new course record with a time of 4:58 on Sunday morning, New Year’s Eve, at Smiling Cove Marina. Kaithlyn Chavez topped the women’s division.
O’Sullivan blew through the one-mile course. “Tired,” was his response when asked how he felt after topping the race. “It was great. I live on Navy Hill so I run this course all the time,” he added.
“I thought that I preferred longer races but the older I’m getting the more I like that little burn, so it was good fun — plus there was a strong tailwind today,” he said.
When asked about setting a new course record, he replied, “I don’t know about holding it, but I hope that I get to defend it next year.”
In second place was Pony Tang with a time of 5:07 followed by Kosuke Sato in third at 5:14.
Women’s division
In the women’s division, Kaithlyn Chavez claimed first place with a time of 5:56.
In second place was Ann Bang with a time of 7:15 while Sheila Isla came in third at 7:58.
“The course was actually nice and fun,” Chavez said. “It was flat and a bit downhill too. I was leading the whole time, so I just told myself to squeeze the gap between the guys in front.”
She added, “It was honestly a great way to end the year with an early one-mile race because it was quick and short. Also thank you to the people behind the scenes for doing tons of competitive races this year. Since soccer has fewer competitions next year, I’m looking forward to focusing more on running and hopefully competing in the races happening during the summer and achieve new personal records.”
The age division winners will be featured in Variety’s next edition.
