SAIPAN International School and Agape Christian School concluded the opening week of the NMA-PSS All-School Cross Country with strong performances, finishing atop the leaderboards in the high school and middle school categories, respectively, at Airport Field on Saturday morning.
SIS displayed dominance in both the boys’ and girls’ high school divisions.
In the boys’ division, SIS’ Victor Nash Santos led the pack, finishing first overall in 17:52. Schoolmate Landen Taflinger followed in second at 19:08. Marianas High School’s Michael Miller placed third in 19:40, with Agape Christian School’s James Fan (19:55) and Benny Li (20:28) in fourth and fifth, respectively, while SIS’ Victor Neil Santos (20:32) claimed sixth.
With additional support from three other runners, SIS topped the boys’ team standings with 19 points, followed by ACS (20), MHS (44), and Mount Carmel School (72).
SIS also claimed the girls’ division with another strong performance. SIS’ Addalee Taflinger led the competition, crossing the finish line first in 23:15. ACS’ Sablina Shen placed second in 24:37, while MHS’ Orica George took third in 24:56. Rounding out the top finishers were Grace Christian Academy’s Dianna Zheng (25:17), MHS’ Jian Chun (25:21), SIS’ Julie Chavez (25:30), and SIS’ Faith Arriola (25:36).
SIS tallied 25 points to lead the girls’ standings, followed by ACS (30) and MHS (32).
In cross country, the goal is for your team to have the lowest score possible. The score is calculated by adding up the finishing positions of a set number of scoring runners from each team. Each runner earns points equal to their finishing place:
1st place – 1 point
2nd place – 2 points
3rd place – 3 points, and so on.
In the middle school category, ACS earned the top spot in the boys’ division with 26 points, edging out Dandan Middle School (30), SIS (42), and Hopwood Middle School (52).
Although ACS’ runners did not place in the top three, their overall consistency secured the win. ACS’ Brian Li (15:35) and Daniel Li (15:49) finished fifth and seventh, while teammates Benjamin Cai (16:40) and Job Gong (16:56) placed 10th and 11th. The top finishers were SIS’ Quido Jambor (13:56), Saipan Community School’s Beau Bauer (14:36), SIS’ Gabriel Walsh (14:36), and DMS’ Jeffrey Pangelinan II (15:03).
In the girls’ middle school division, SIS once again reigned supreme with 17 points, followed by SCS (24), DMS (48), and Eucon (66).
SCS’ LoVel Spaeth led the race in 14:40, trailed by SIS’ Neveah Arriola (16:55) and Kaylen Taflinger (17:05). Rounding out the top finishers were SCS’ Nadine VanDam (17:29), SIS’ Harper Loken (17:31), DMS’ Amica Hornilla (18:22), and SIS’ Leilani Ruszala (19:05).
Saipan Community School’s LoVel Spaeth pushes through the final leg of the middle school race in the NMA-PSS All-School Cross Country SY25-26 at Airport Field on Saturday morning.
Saipan International School’s Quido Jambor races toward the finish line in the boys’ middle school division of the NMA-PSS All-School Cross Country SY25-26 at Airport Field on Saturday morning.
Saipan International School’s Addalee Taflinger completes the final lap in the girls’ high school division of the NMA-PSS All-School Cross Country SY25-26 at Airport Field on Saturday morning.
