The annual signature event of Marianas Visitors Authority was co-sponsored by the Rota Mayor’s Office and the Kiyokazu Fitness Club of Japan, which was instrumental in attracting over 150 Japanese athletes to the event this year. Other countries represented in the race were the Northern Marianas, Guam, Rota and the United Kingdom.
“We’re very pleased with the success of this year’s event, especially the large turnout of participants from Japan,” said MVA Community Projects Manager Martin Duenas. “With the Japanese Yen performing stronger against the U.S. dollar this year, we had more success in enticing competitors to join. Of course, the natural beauty of Rota is still a big draw.”
Japanese competitors swept nearly all the top spots in the triathlon. In the A-type solo triathlon, which featured a 1.5-km swim, 40-km biking course and a 10-km run, 32-year-old Yu Yumoto led the men’s division with 2:08:54, followed by Taro Shirato in 2:10:28 and Yasunori Teramoto in 2:18:58. Completing first in the Women’s Division was Rhie Ohara from Japan with a total combined time of 2:59:46, followed in second by Mioko Nakada in 3:01:59 and landing in third was Japan’s Atsuko Suzuki with a total time of 3:04:22.
The rigorous B-type solo triathlon featured a 2-km swim, followed by a 90-km biking course and a 21-km run. Japan’s Eri Miyazawa led all competitors in the B-type course, also finishing first among in the women’s division in 5:17:43. She was followed by Misako Miyauchi in 6:37:28 and Tomoko Oda in 6:53:18. The top finisher in the men’s division was Takahiro Miyazaka in 5:18:55, followed by Misaaki Sato in 5:19:33 and Rennan Butch Sublemente of Saipan in 5:31:53.
At 63, Tamio Motojima of Japan was the oldest competitor to complete the triathlon, finishing the B-type course in 7:37:56. Japan’s youngest athlete Kenta Suganuma, at 13, completed the triathlon in 2:39:26, while 14-year-old Guam native Branlon Fell completed the course in 2:23:22.
Competitors were welcomed and congratulated by Rota Mayor Melchor A. Mendiola and other dignitaries at an awards banquet was held on race day at Rota East Harbor.
The Rota Blue Triathlon is one of four major triathlon events held in the Northern Mariana Islands each year, including the XTERRA Saipan Championship, Tagaman Triathlon and the Tinian Turquoise Blue Triathlon.
The triathlon was sponsored by Rota Resort and Country Club, Bay Breeze Restaurant and Bar, JSBM, Aqua Gift Shop, Mark Michael, RUBIN, Sirena, government departments and agencies, numerous volunteers, and the friendly people of Rota.
