The NMI’s Isaiah Aleksenko, seen here racing on Day 2 of the swimming competition in the 2024 Micronesian Games in Kwajalein, won two more individual gold medals Tuesday night.
(Northern Marianas Sports Association) — Team Marianas has already exceeded its medal output in the 2018 Micronesian Games, as NMI swimmers, weightlifters, and beach volleyball players delivered a combined 22 medals for the islands Tuesday at the continuation of the 2024 Micronesian Games in the Marshall Islands.
NMI swimmers collected 10 more gold medals and four silvers, the weightlifting team claimed three silvers and three bronzes, while the men’s and women’s beach volleyball squads each earned a bronze medal. With this haul, Team Marianas now has 26 gold medals, 14 silvers, and 10 bronzes for a total of 50 medals, surpassing the 9-18-9 tally the NMI had during the 2018 Micronesian Games in Yap.
Frances Raho, center, and Shoko Litulumar, right, made it a 1-2 finish for the NMI in the women’s 50yd backstroke.
Team Marianas topped all but one of the 11 swim races at the Kwajalein pool Tuesday night. Kean Pajarillaga, Maria Batallones, Isaiah Aleksenko, and Frances Raho started the NMI’s medal splash in Day 3 of the swim competition after they won the mixed 200yd medley relay. The NMI swimmers went on to close the Tuesday night action at the pool with a sweep of the last two events — the women’s and men’s 800yd freestyle relay races.
In the individual events, Batallones won three races — women’s 400yd individual medley, 100yd freestyle, and 100yd breaststroke. Isaiah Aleksenko chipped in a pair of gold medals with his triumphs in the men’s 400yd IM and 100yd freestyle races, while Frances Raho and Kouki Watanabe ruled the women’s 50yd backstroke and men’s 100m breaststroke, respectively.
Watanabe added a silver to the NMI’s total after placing second to Aleksenko in the 400yd IM, while the team’s three other silver medals came from Shoko Litulumar (women’s 400yd IM and 50yd backstroke) and Kean Pajarillaga (men’s 50yd backstroke).
NMI swimmers are halfway through the competitions and hope to keep their momentum in last three days of the races. There are 53 events in the swimming competition, including the ocean swim this Friday.
The NMI’s Aurora Santos, Kathy Winkfield, Dylan Mister, and Jermaine Salas, won bronze medals in the beach volleyball competition.
Weightlifting, beach volleyball teams make podium
Riella Ichiuo and Antonette Labausa capped the NMI weightlifting team’s campaign in the Marshall Islands with podium appearances. Ichiuo got three silvers in the 76kg class, while Labausa notched three bronze medals in the 81kg division.
In beach volleyball, the pair of Aurora Santos defeated the Marshall Islands in the bronze medal game, while Jermaine Salas and Dylan Mister duplicated the feat when they topped Kiribati.
In other results, the NMI Women’s Fast-pitch Softball Team absorbed another tough loss, falling to Pohnpei, 7-9. The NMI was ahead, 4-3, at the top of the seventh before losing the driver’s seat and eventually the match despite rallying late in the game. The team will close out pool play with a game against Palau Wednesday afternoon.
Basketball
In women’s basketball, NMI made it back-to-back after beating Chuuk, 50-28. Next up for NMI women’s is host Marshall Islands. In the men’s division, NMI had a rousing debut after crushing Kiribati, 73-43. Team Marianas men’s basketball squad will go for win No. 2 today when it faces Chuuk.
Team Marianas’ participation in the 2024 Micronesian Game is supported by the following sponsors: Joeten Daidai Foundation, Mariana Express Lines Pte. Ltd, Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, Skechers, Triple J Enterprise, E-Land Group, D&Q, TakeCare Insurance, IT&E, Bank of Guam, Black Construction Corp., Dial-Rent-To-Own, RNV Construction, GPPC/Apex Builders, Matson, Chinese Association of Saipan, Y.K. Corp., LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort, Jose & Ruri Ayuyu Foundation/McDonald’s, P&A Corp., Artman Corp., Zoom Café, and I Love Saipan.
