Jireh Wang pushes through the final leg of the 5K Fun Run of the Run Saipan Labor Day Half Marathon 2024 at American Memorial Park on Saturday.
Kaithlyn Chavez smiles as she crosses the finish line of the 5K Fun Run of the Run Saipan Labor Day Half Marathon 2024 at American Memorial Park on Saturday.
HIGH school students Jireh Wang and Kaithlyn Chavez topped their respective divisions in the 5K Fun Run portion of the Run Saipan Labor Day Half Marathon 2024 on Saturday.
Wang finished strong with a time of 18:03 to claim first place in the men’s division. Victor Nash Santos trailed behind at 19:02 while Jim Takeru came in third with a time of 19:02.
“I felt very good — the distance was OK,” Wang said. “I’m glad that my training over the summer [in China] is paying off.”
He said he was familiar with the course and its turning points and knew when to adjust his strength to gain distance.
Wang said he is now focused on the upcoming cross-country season. “This is good training for the upcoming cross country. This is my last year in high school so I would like to give it my best,” he said.
In the woman’s division, Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez finished first with a time of 22:02 followed by Addalee Taflinger at 23:24, and Lydia Tan at 26:15.
Great turnout
Participants of the 5K Fun Run pose for a photo before the start of the race at American Memorial Park on Saturday.
“Personally, for me, we had a great turnout,” said Run Saipan President Edward Dela Cruz Jr. About 120 runners participated — 40 at the start of the half marathon and 80 at the start of the 5K. Also showing support were off-island visitors from the U.S. Army. “Ten Army soldiers paid the United round-trip ticket to make this their first race,” Dela Cruz said.
Traditionally in the states, he added, “marathons are in the fall because it’s cooler. Obviously in Saipan doing a marathon in the fall is like playing Russian roulette. I took a chance with a prayer. God favored us today and we had some good weather.”
He said next year’s half marathon is set for Aug. 30, 2025 during the Labor Day weekend. It will start and end at the hotel property formerly known as the Hyatt, and will head up north on Route 30. The event will feature participant t-shirts, finisher medals, championship medals for the top three, and entertainment.
