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Turkeys on the line next week
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Posted on Nov 14 2006
While folks on the mainland are making plans to travel over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house for the turkey this Thanksgiving Day, the people of Saipan need only run faster than their friends to bag a bird, as the Northern Mariana Athletics Turkey Trot returns to Saipan in its 22nd installment.
According to the NMA developmental coach Elias Rangamar, participants will start the 4.2-mile course at the Department of Public Works Beach in Lower Base in the wee hours of Thursday, Nov. 23, and make their way upward along a road that is both paved and rocky, toward Mount Tapochau.
Runners will be divided into age groups, and the fastest finishers in the men’s and women’s 13-and-under, 17-and-under, open division, 40-49, and 50-and-over will be awarded a turkey for their efforts.
Last year, Stuart Smith and Noriko Jim took top honors and turkeys for the men and women amidst a crowd of 110 early birds with respective times of 37:11 and 40:43, and they will most likely be here to defend their crowns again next week.
Former Saipan track star turned NMA secretary general Robin Sapong was the first to finish in his category three times, and he also knows the value of being the early bird. Aside from being able to win able to win a free dinner, participants will also be entered into a raffle in which they can win an assortment of prizes from local businesses
Registration will be at 5:15am on the day of the event, and participants need only pay $7 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 17.
For more information about the 20th Annual Turkey Trot, contact Rangamar by calling at 664-2503.
