Stars of track top headlines

Last week’s center stage belonged to around 1,000 student athletes who rain or shine showed what stuff they are made off during the 2009 All Schools Track and Field Championships at the Oleai Sports Complex.

These student-tracksters, who survived a series of qualifying tournaments, competed in running, jumping, and throwing events for two days in their quest for individual medals and glory for their respective schools.

After two days of hard work, Northern Marianas Athletics rewarded schools with trophies and students with medals.

Whispering Palms and Dandan Elementary School topped the girls’ and boys’ 8-and-under age group. Saipan International School and Brilliant Star settled for second and third, respectively, in the girls’ U8. In the boys’ U8, Kagman Elementary School finished second, while SIS placed third.

Saipan Community School topped the girls’ U10, followed by Whispering Palms and SIS. In the boys’ U10, the Top 3 finishers were William S. Reyes Elementary School, Tanapag and Whispering Palms

SCS ruled the girls’ U12, beating WSR and Whispering Palms. The boys’ U12 title went to WSR, which prevailed over Dandan and SIS.

Hopwood Junior High School and Marianas High School swept the girls’ and boys’ 14-and-under and 18-and-under divisions, respectively.

Sprinter Yvonne Bennett of Kagman High School led the top individual performers of the meet, as she nailed four gold medals. In the elementary division, Gabrielle Race of Whispering Palms walked away with three gold medals. More than 10 student-athletes went home with multiple gold medals.

The Patriots, meanwhile, went home last week with only one trophy, but it was a big one, as they won the Junior League division of the 2009 Saipan Little League Division in their first year in the event.

The Patriots, who ruled the Major League for three straight years, before moving up to the Junior League defeated Ol’Aces in the finals, 8-4, to bring their collection of trophies to seven.

Guamanian spearfisherman Myles Driscoll added two trophies to his stock after taking home the team and individual awards in the 3rd Annual Saipan Spearfishing Tournament.

Driscoll and teammate Mike “Todd” Genereux hauled in the most fish with their catch tipping the scales at 150.5 lbs. Last year’s winners Scott Russell and Peter Houk settled for a runner-up finish after netting 75.5 lbs. Sasamoto brothers, Felix and Greg, came in third with their 64-lbs catch

Driscoll won his second trophy after winning the individual division courtesy of his haul of 86 lbs.

Trophies were on display during the opening of the Inaugural Shirley’s Coffee Shop Invitational Basketball League at the JP Center Basketball Court.

Six teams are entered in the tournament with G4S and Micronesian Brokers, Inc. winning their opening games against Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, 84-60, and Pacific Trading, Co., 75-72, respectively.

The 40-member Koala Wanderers International Club of Germany returned to Saipan last week and had their usual trekking here and on Tinian.

The group joined 54 other walkers for the Saipan phase of the Koala Wanderers IVV Saipan and Tinian Walk, a 5- and 10-km jaunt from Hafadai Beach Hotel to the Japanese Tank and Oleai Beach Bar and Grill and back. On Tinian, the Manfred Trettin-led group visited the historic site where Little Boy was loaded aboard the Enola Gay more than 60 years ago.

In other events last week, the Masters division of the Navy Hill caging had already started its three-team playoff round with C.K. Legends and MDX Armatech having one win apiece to boost their bids for a finals appearance.

The 2009 Budweiser Saipan Major League is closing in to the playoff round with the Rangers getting a good chance of taking the pennant with their 11-1 record.