Torchbearers sweep HS athletics champs

Agape Christian School boys team, center, is first place, Saipan International School is second, and Saipan Southern High School is third in the 18U PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Athletics 2022-2023 championships last Friday night and Saturday morning at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field. (LEIGH GASES)

The ever-blazing Torchbearers swept both boys and girls divisions of the 18U PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Athletics 2022-2023 championships last Friday night and Saturday morning at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field.

The boys of Agape had the most points garnered over the qualifiers and the championships with 114 points; Marianas High School was second with 84 points; and Tinian High School came in a close third place with 83 points.

In the girls division, the girls team won first place with a whopping 121 points; Saipan International School Lady Geckos came in second with 74 points; and third was Saipan Southern High School Lady Manta Rays with 69 points.

An Agape Christian School runner, right, crosses the finish line first during their relay race at the 18U PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Athletics 2022-2023 championships last Saturday morning at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field. (LEIGH GASES)

In the championship events on Saturday, ACS dominated the 18U boys 3,000m race as Jireh Wang came in first at 10:35.68; second was teammate Samuel Zhu in at 10:52.32; third was MHS’ Pony Tang who clocked in at 11:08.24.

The Lady Torchbearers controlled the 3,000m as well, as Eunice Xu was first with 12:41.07; Tiana Cabrera from SIS was second at 12:26.30; and Emma Pang was third at 14:08.15.

Agape Christian School’s Eunice Xu, right, hands off the baton to her teammate, Mary Zhu, during their relay race in the 18U PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Athletics 2022-2023 championships last Saturday morning at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field. (LEIGH GASES)

In the boys 1,500m race Jireh Wang at 4:48.76 and Samuel Zhu at 4:50.49 grabbed first and third, while Pony Tang came in second at 4:55.54.

In Saturday’s boys 800m race, the Torchbearers’ Caleb Cui at 2:15.93 and Jireh Wang at 2:16.16 came in second and third. First went to MHS’ Cody Shimizu at 2:14.02.

During the relay races on Saturday, the ACS boys grabbed first place in the 4X400m with a team time of 3:54.52; second was MHS with 4:08.55; and third was THS at 4:09.99.

The boys also topped the 4X100m relay with a time of 48.70; MHS grabbed the second spot at 50.69; and SIS won third with 51.01 seconds.

The Lady Torchbearers, for their part, were second in the 4X400m relay, behind SIS’ 4:53.62 with a time of 4:54.54. SSHS was third with 5:30.71.

In the 18U girls 800m also on Saturday, SIS’ Kaithlyn Chavez came in first at 2:32.70; ACS’ Eunice Xu claimed second at 2:41.65; and Summer Manahane from SSHS was third at 2:55.95.

In the 18U girls 1,500m, Kaithlyn Chavez bagged first with a time of 5:34 as she defeated Eunice Xu who was leading. Xu finished second at 5:40.61 and third was SIS’ Tiana Cabrera at 5:57.53.

Top 3 in the 18U boys 100m were Theodore Rodgers from Grace Christian Academy at 11.63; ACS’ Bill Li at 11.82; and Charlie McDonald from SIS at 11.98 seconds. Rodgers also topped the 18U boys 200m at 24.05; Cody Shimizu from MHS was second at 24.22; and Bill Li came in third at 24.37.

Top 3 in the 18U girls 200m were SSHS’ Casey Cruz at 27.57; Edwardina Flamar from Kagman High School at 30.47; and ACS’ Priscilla Cheng at 31.46 seconds.

The boys 400m was topped by Cody Shimizu at 56.15; Theodore Rodgers was second at 56.94; and ACS’ Caleb Cui at 57.18

The 18U girls 400m first place went to Kaithlyn Chavez at 1:07.83; second was Casey Cruz at 1:11.10; and third was ACS’ Mary Zhu at 1:11.89

In the 18U girls discus, Kina Rangamar from MHS at 23.54m took first place; ACS’ Ruth Zhang was second at 21.01m; and Jasmine John from SSHS was third at 18.76m. Top 3 in the 18U girls shot put were Jasmine John and Ruth Zhang tied at 7.31m, and Abbygaile Ong from THS at 7.05m.

ACS pastor Kok H. Pang said that the sweep of both divisions was great. “[The] hard work paid off. We always tell our students you reap what you sow. So no shortcuts—no cheating, just hard work consistently.” He said, “It’s about teamwork. Of course being an individual is important, but at the same time, when you come together as a team, you will achieve a lot.”

Coach and teacher Chris Zemple also said he was happy with the results. “The runners, they train year round, but we started training [for the field events] since March.” 
Pang then thanked “God, our lord Jesus Christ, and second the organizer, the [Public School System] Athletics Program, NMA and Run Saipan, and all those involved–especially the volunteers who worked hard for this.”

Results of the 14U middle school winners will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.