Saipan Tribune

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

25 Saipan runners make winners' list

Noriko Jim and Terra Allen led more than 20 Saipan runners who made it to the winners circle in last Saturday's 2013 Saipan Marathon.

Jim topped the women's 10K race for the fifth straight time after completing the event in 44:55. The 42-year-old runner also recorded the fastest time in the 10K race that started at the American Memorial Park with runners heading north along Beach Road before making a turn near Hakubotan and returning to AMP.

Joining Jim in the Top 6 overall ranking in the 10K race were mother and daughter Ayumi and Conatsu Kaga, who crossed the finish line together and clocked in at 55:00 to tie for fourth to fifth place. Three Japanese runners rounded out the Top 6.

In the men's division, Steven Pixley claimed third place with his 47:00, while fellow Saipan runner Daisuke Matsuo came in at sixth with a time of 49.18. Yonekura Takao of Japan topped the division with his 45:23.

In the age group category, Takumi Sugie (49:41) won the U14 division; Justin Poon (55:38) led in the U18; Malika Miyawaki (1:11:46) ruled the girls U14; Suhui Lee (56:52) prevailed in the women's 20 to 29; Tomoko Nishio (59:56) reigned in the women's 40 to 49; Tomomi Kambe (57:43) triumphed in the women's 50 to 59; and Suzanne Kindel (1:01:06) emerged victorious in the over 60 class.

In the half marathon, Allen successfully defended her women's crown after cutting the tape at the 1:48:00 mark. The 30-year-old runner also eclipsed her 2012 winning time (1:50:45) and defeated four Japanese bets and fellow Saipan entry Elaine Kwok (1:53:51), who came in at fifth.

Charlie Epperson completed a Saipan sweep in the half marathon after posting 1:21:09, more than five minutes ahead of Japan's Yoshimura Yusuke. Sean Smith and Ronald Villafria were the two other Saipan runners to make it to the Top 6 after recording 1:30:31 and 1:33:41, respectively.

Mother and son Sakiko and Seiya Eda led the age group winners in the half marathon with the former clinching top honors in the 40 to 49 age group after clocking in at 2:00:01 and the latter ruling the 15 to 19 division after logging 1:49:11.

Other age group top finishers from Saipan were Jessy James (30 to 29/1:34:00), Manny Aaron (40 to 49/1:37:21), and Pipit Ball (20 to 29/1:58:49). The half marathon course started at AMP with runners heading to as far as Pacific Islands Club and back to AMP.

In the marathon, barefoot runner Chang Whan Jang prevailed in the over 60 division completing the race from AMP up to Marianas Resort in the north and Pacific Islands Club in the south and back to the starting line in 3:51:23.

Roy Ortizo did the longest race last weekend and won 50K's 50 to 59 top honors after submitting 5:25:02.