VICTORY Nash Santos and Krista Hawley finished first in their respective divisions in the third and final race of Run Saipan’s Trinity 2025 at Banzai Cliff on Monday morning. Santos and Hawley ruled all three races of this year’s Trinity.
The final race, the Marpi Trail Run — also known as the original Gecko 5000 racecourse — is a favorite among the island’s runners. However, it was a new course for Santos and Hawley.
Nevertheless, Santos dominated the competition, crossing the finish line in 18:12 to win both the men’s division and the overall race.
In second place was Landen Taflinger at 18:58 while Jim Takeru finished third at 19:20.
“I didn’t even want to wake up anymore — I also didn’t like sleeping early because it was different from my regular sleep schedule,” Santos told Variety. However, he said the Marpi Trail was his favorite course because it was his first time running it.
As for wining this year’s Trinity, he said, “Being able to win back-to-back-to-back is a blessing. It does help me become a better runner and it helps me push myself beyond my comfort zone.”
Dominant
In the women’s division, Krista Hawley displayed her dominance by finishing first with a time of 23:33. Addalee Taflinger came in second at 23:43 while Terra Allen finished third at 23:58.
On Monday, not only did Hawley battle the rest of the competition, but she was also racing against time as she had a flight to catch later that day.
Final standings
Victor Nash Santos is the men’s division champion with an accumulated time of 1:22:15. Landen Taflinger was second at 1:26:46 while Jordan Ruiz placed third at 1:33:22. Krista Hawley topped the women’s division with a total time of 1:47:14 followed by Addalee Taflinger at 1:48:16, and Terra Allen at 1:49:58.
“Congratulations to all the runners for completing the only three-day, back-to-back race event in the Marianas,” Run Saipan President Edward Dela Cruz Jr. said. “These people persevered through adversity and survived the weekend and completed the Saipan running gauntlet known as the Trinity.”
Dela Cruz at the same time thanked “Marianas Variety, Saipan International School, Northern Marianas Athletics, Marianas High School’s National Honor Society and Marianas High School’s Dolphin Run Club for supporting this year’s Trinity event.”
Run Saipan’s next race is set for March 22, Saturday on the Route 36 course, starting at San Juan Beach along the highway. “People will be taking San Juan hill that weekend,” Dela Cruz said in a jest.
Victory Nash Santos crosses the finish line of Run Saipan’s Trinity 2025’s Marpi Trail Run at Banzai Cliff on Monday morning.
Krista Hawley pushes through the final leg of the Marpi Trail Run of Run Saipan’s Trinity 2025 at Banzai Cliff on Monday morning.
The participants of the Marpi Trail Run of Run Saipan’s Trinity 2025 pose for group photo at the starting point at the Last Command Post Monday morning.
