Saipan Tribune

Friday, May 24, 2013

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

2 world championships await CNMI tracksters

Northern Marianas Athletics has released its 2013 calendar of events that includes two world championships competitions.

NMA is invited to the 8th IAAF World Youth Championships, which will run from July 10 to 14 at the RSC Olimpiyskiy in Donetsk, Ukraine. The youth championship is held every two years with runner Reylynn Sapong the latest CNMI athlete to join the prestigious event previously held at the Stadium Lille Métropole in Lille, France, in 2011. Sapong clocked in at 14.25 seconds in the 100m run to duplicate her personal best time (electronic).

NMA is expected to name its representative to the world championships in Ukraine in May after the All Schools Championships, which is one of the highlights in the association's schedule of events, showcasing the Commonwealth's healthy pool of U18 athletes.

Another major event NMA is looking forward this year is the 14th IAAF World Championships, which will take place at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, from Aug. 10 to 18.

The Commonwealth had two representatives in the previous world championships with Yvonne Bennett competing in the 100m run and Orrin Pharmin joining the 100m hurdles. Bennett submitted 12.78 seconds in the 100m preliminary race to finish fifth on Heat 5, just one notch away from moving into the second round of the sprints. Pharmin had a PBT in the 100m hurdles after tallying 12.60 seconds.

NMA's Elias Rangamar, in a brief interview with Saipan Tribune yesterday, said the association will meet before the month ends to elect its officials for 2013 and discuss details of the CNMI's participation to the two world championship events.

Rangamar also included in NMA's calendar of events other off-island competitions where CNMI athletes are invited to join. The list includes the Oceania Area Championships in June, Australian Junior Championships in March, and Melbourne IAAF World Challenge in April.

For the local events, NMA listed the PSS/McDonald's All Schools Meet trials in March and April, the Marianas Athletics Carnival, CNMI National Championships, and PSS/McDonald's All Schools Meet, which are also set for May, the All Schools Cross-Country Series in September and October, the Turkey Trot Run in November, and the Christmas Island Relay in December. (Saipan Tribune)