KOSUKE Sato and Ayano Braxton ruled their respective divisions in the Happy Hearts 5K Fun Run hosted by Run Saipan and the CHCC Sunshine Squad on Friday morning.
The route started at Garapan Fishing Base and proceeded to the Japanese World War II Tank Memorial on Quartermaster Road before heading back.
Kosuke Sato topped the men’s division while Ayano Braxton was first in the women’s.
Sato never released the gas pedal as he sped through the course with a finish time of 20:05. Following behind were Michael Mancao at 21:48 and Sildrey Viloria with a time of 22:28.28.
Coming in fourth and fifth were Theodore Rodgers, 22:28.84; and Greg Trusso, 22:42.
In the women’s division, Ayano Braxton was dominant, clocking 23:58. Chisato Rosemarie was second with a time of 25:50; Jenna Kong, was third, 27:07.7; Kathy Ruszala, fourth, 27:15; and Ann Bang, fifth, 27:50.
This was a special event: the CHCC Sunshine Squad not only donated $1,500, it was also Run Saipan’s biggest 5K turnout.
“We reached over 100 registrants and, on the ground, we had 96 runners total,” said Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz.
The top three runners in both divisions won free entries to any “Run Saipan” race of their choosing for the rest of the year. The offer expires after Dec. 31, 2022 if not redeemed at the last race of the year.
The participants pose for a photo before the start of the Run Saipan & CHCC Sunshine Squad’s Happy Hearts 5K Fun Run at the Garapan Fishing Base on Friday.
