TO make the first NMI Women’s Run as successful as possible, Northern Mariana Athletics has decided to postpone the event until March 27, 2021.
The NMI Women’s Run will offer opportunities to participate both virtually and face-to-face, and bring the 2021 Women’s History Month to a close, NMA stated.
The face-to-face run will take place on the official 10K race course, starting at American Memorial Park by the Hyatt. This is a 10K race for women only.
There are individual and team categories. In the team category, four women will complete the 10K distance and the top three times will be added up to give a composite time.
In the virtual event, participants can run distances of 5K or 10K.
“Men are also welcome to come out and support the important women in their lives in the virtual event as well. Participants can complete the distance of their choice wherever they like during the entire month of March, including on a treadmill. The virtual event also includes a team category,” NMA stated.
NMA said it has partnered with Race Roster, an online registration site used by many federations in Oceania Athletics, to enhance its presence online and make it easier for NMI residents to participate.
Registration is open online at: https://raceroster.com/events/2021/45389/nmi-10km-womens-run
Coordinator Ron Snyder stated that the World Athletics Council also has some tie-ins to the event.
NMA’s Robin Sapong is one of the newest members of the World Athletic Council.
“World Athletics has a goal of increasing inclusion and we thought that it would be good to support that goal by making the main event for women only,” said Snyder who is also the headmaster of Saipan International School.
“This also helps us to celebrate them and support them in a virtual context. World Athletics has two goals that impact this. The first is ‘Be Active.’ This transcends just physical activity. Be Active is meant to include lifestyle, performance and culture. The race organizers are planning some cultural support to add to the lifestyle and performance aspects.”
Snyder added, “Right now we are focused on developing this as a way of increasing opportunities for our female athletes and recognizing all the wonderful things that women do in the world.”
