The NMI’s Tony Ichiuo, right, and other runners take off in the 60-meter event of the 2023 Oceania Masters Championships at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field oval.
THE NMI’S Tony Ichiuo, 58, is grateful for the 2023 Oceania Masters Championships as it “brought him out of retirement,” and allowed him to earn three gold medals.
The event was held from June 22 to 26 at the Oleai Sports Complex Oval track and field.
Ichiuo was the only competitor in the 55-59 age group of the 60-meter race and clocked 9.54 to earn his first gold medal.
In the 55-59 age group of the shotput event, Ichiuo won another gold with the farthest distance of 8.93m in six attempts. Papua New Guinea’s Brett Green collected the silver at 8.29m while the Federated States of Micronesia’s Karatel Phillip earned the bronze at 8.29m.
Ichiuo claimed his third gold medal in the 55-59 age group of the discus throw event.
Although he missed two of his six attempts, he still recorded the greatest distance of 30.84m to secure the top spot. In second and third places were Papua New Guinea’s Brett Green at 23.91m, and the FSM’s Karatel Phillip at 23.04m.
“We should do a lot of these events more often, especially the masters,” Ichiuo said. “All the retired athletes will have an opportunity to come out and participate,” he added.
Ichiuo has been competing and representing the CNMI since the 1994 Micronesian Games in Guam. “When I first started, this track was made of grass,” said Ichiuo, referring to the Oleai track and field.
