PROVING that virtual races can take you places, Team Run Saipan members have been given the opportunity to compete in the World Athletics Championship in Oregon in July 2022.
Team Run Saipan participated in the World Athletics ASICS World Ekiden 2021 last month. For placing 2,277th out of 5,952, they were among the teams selected for the World Athletics Championships.
Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz Jr. said, “Honestly my team and I feel so honored and ecstatic for the World Championships of Track and Field at Eugene, Oregon!”
He said the World Athletics and ASICS had to select only one team from each region, and Run Saipan is included in Oceania.
“So I’m so surprised we beat out teams from places like Australia and New Zealand! It’s a dream come true to be able to witness the top athletes of our sport perform in the closest thing to an Olympic experience we will get.”
Besides Dela Cruz, the other Run Saipan members who may see action in Oregon are Sildrey Veloria, Gerald Galang, Jenna Kong, Simon Necesito and Jalen Lucido.
“I’d just like to thank my friends that volunteered for our Asics Ekiden World Relay Team,” Dela Cruz said. “They were amazing —they put their hearts and souls in their race legs. I also would like to thank Coach Robin Sapong, Northern Marianas Athletics as well as World Athletics and ASICS for giving us this opportunity,” Dela Cruz added.
Team Run Saipan’s Sildrey Veloria, Edward Dela Cruz Jr., and Gerald Galang are among the local runners who have been given the opportunity to participate in the World Athletics Championship in Oregon in July 2022.
Contributed photos
