The Pacific Mini Games will be held on Sept. 30 in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
Joshua who is also preparing for the XTERRA World Championship in Makena, Maui, Hawaii on Oct. 25 was selected by the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association and endorsed by the Northern Marianas Island Triathlon Federation as the official triathlete for the Cook Islands event.
The NMASA, according to its President Michael A. White will make the travel plans for Manglona who will leave for Cook Islands a few days prior to the event’s date.
He said Manglona will get to carry the CNMI flag in the ceremonies.
Russ Quinn, president of Northern Marianas Island Triathlon Federation said they will support Manglona. They will provide him the uniform he needs and will assist him in fundraising activities for his travel cost.
Quinn said that among the CNMI U.S. citizens, Manglona is so far, the most competitive triathlete they see can participate in the Pacific Mini Games.
The Pacific Mini Games triathlon involves 1,500-meter swim, 40 kilometer bike and 10 kilometer run courses.
Manglona was the only triathlete from Tinian who participated in the 9th Saipan XTERRA Championship last April 18 and 20th Tagaman Triathlon last April 25.
Manglona’s attitude and spirit in competing in triathlon impressed the XTERRA World Tour managing director David Nicholas.
He told Tinian Mayor Jose P. San Nicolas two months ago that Manglona is exactly the type of young man that XTERRA hopes to attract.
“Healthy, goal oriented, more interested in an outdoor lifestyle than video games; Joshua could be a terrific role model for the youth of Tinian,” Nicholas tells the Tinian mayor, as he formally informed him they are accepting Manglona for the XTERRA World Championship.
