FOUR veteran runners — Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez, Tiana Cabrera, Michael Mancao and Kosuke Sato — dominated the 1600m distance in their respective divisions during the Northern Marianas Athletics Track & Field Open Meet on Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex.
The weather was great and each runner gave it their all.
In the U18 division, Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez stole the show, rounding the track four times to complete the race with a time of 06:23.0.
In the female open division, another young runner, Tiana Cabrera, clinched first place with a finish time of 06:32.2 while Denise Myers came in seven minutes behind at 06:39.0 to claim second place.
As for the men’s open division, Michael Mancao topped the charts with an impressive time of 05:51.8.
Edward Dela Cruz Jr. was hot on Mancao’s trail but had to settle for second place with a no less splendid time of 05:48.8.
Coming in third was Orrin Pharmin with a time of 06:23.2.
In the masters 50-and-over division, Kosuke Sato recorded an outstanding time of 05:40.73 to not only top the division, but to finish overall first as well.
Ron Snyder also earned the spotlight as he ruled the master’s 55-and-over division with a finish time of 07:26.1.
100m
In the 100m distance, a handful of athletes shared the podium by winning their divisions.
In the female category, Leani Acosta finished first in the U18 division, clocking at 14.14 while Zarinae Sapong topped the open division with a time of 13.42.
For her part, Rhonda Gross was numero uno in the masters 40-and-above division with a time of 16.74.
In the male category, Joseph Pangelinan bested five others in the U18 division with a finish time of 13.37 while Leon Dela Cruz ruled the open division with a time of 12.65.
In the masters 45-and-above, Gregory Borja finished first with a time of 15.05 as Kosuke Sato claimed the masters 50-and-above division with a time of 13.94.
Long Jump
As for the Long Jump events, Leani Acosta and Theodore Rodgers dominated the men and women’s U18 division.
Acosta leapt a distance of 4.34m while Rodgers jumped 4.89m.
In the open division, Zarinae Sapong covered a distance of 4.25 to top the women’s division while Orrin Pharmin ruled the men’s division with a distance of 4.34.
In the masters division, Rhonda Gross reached out to 3.05m to clinch first place in the women’s division while Gregory Borja took the top spot in the men’s division by jumping 4.21m to beat Nick Gross who covered a distance of 4.17.
NMA secretary general Robin Sapong said in hosting events such as the Track & Field Open Meet on Saturday, NMA is helping “create a healthier and fitter community.”
Kosuke Sato and Michael Mancao lead their respective divisions in the 1600m race of the Northern Marianas Athletics Track & Field Open Meet on Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex.
Leani Acosta executes the long jump in the women’s U18 division of the Northern Marianas Athletics Track & Field Open Meet on Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex.
