The participants of the Run Saipan’s 4th Annual 4th of July Independence Day 2-mile Race pose for a photo on Thursday morning.
JODY O’Sullivan and NMI national record holder Tania Tan dominated their respective divisions in Run Saipan’s 4th Annual 4th of July Independence Day 2-mile Race on Thursday morning.
The race course was from the Smiling Cove Marina parking lot to Industrial Road at Gov. Eloy S. Inos Peace Park, and back.
O’Sullivan set a new course record in finishing first overall with a time of 11:11.
In second place in the men’s division was Heimanarii Lai San, who clocked 11:40, while Simon Tang settled for third place at 11:47.
Jody O’Sullivan celebrates as he finishes first overall in Run Saipan’s 4th Annual 4th of July Independence Day 2-mile Race at Smiling Cove Marina on Thursday morning.
O’Sullivan said after Jordan Ruiz took off at the beginning of the race, he thought it was better to stay within touching distance. But he said they were “way too fast” and he almost “died” at the corner turn of the course.
“It was a nice way to start the day,” said O’Sullivan, who finished first in the Run from 2023 Mile Race on Dec. 31, 2023.
He said he knew Thursday’s race was going to be downhill, but “coming back, it felt more downhill in December than it did this time. There’s less wind this morning.”
Domination
Tania Tan crosses the finish line to top the women’s division of Run Saipan’s 4th Annual 4th of July Independence Day 2-mile Race at Smiling Cove Marina on Thursday morning.
Tania Tan dominated the women’s division with a time of 12:38.
In second place was Krista Hawley with a time of 16:00 while Leilani Ruszala came in third at 17:15.
Tan’s victory was an added bonus after celebrating her 23rd birthday on July 1. She said it was also her first time to be on island on the Fourth of July since she was a child.
“I guess this could be the actual party and celebration for my birthday with a medal, so happy birthday to me!” she said. “It was fun and that’s all that matters.”
Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz Jr. said with 38 runners, it was a great turnout. “It’s amazing because anytime you have a holiday race, it’s really hard for people to wake up on a midweek day off and run a race at six in the morning, so I’m very happy with the results,” he added.
The change of course was decided for the runners’ safety due to the ongoing Beach Road construction.
“We might just keep it here on Industrial Drive,” Dela Cruz said. “People have fun having the road to themselves this early in the morning versus running on the sidewalk.”
Thursday’s course is also used for U.S. Army Reserve fitness test runs.
“The only difference is Run Saipan blessed it with a certified course,” Dela Cruz said.
He said Run Saipan’s goal is to certify its courses to help promote sports tourism in the CNMI and bring in elite runners from around the world.
Dela Cruz thanked Latte Built and its owner Derek Cutting for their continued support and sponsorship. He also thanked the race participants, IT&E’s Rob Harrell, the Department of Public Safety, Saipan Tribune and Marianas Variety.
