MPP wins 2 bronze medals

Marianas Pacific Paddlers’ all women’s va’a team bagged two bronze medals in the 23rd Annual Micronesia Cup Canoe Race off the waters of Matapang Beach, Guam last weekend.

With competitors from all over Micronesia, the women showed what women power is all about with the MPP Blue crew bringing home bronze medals in the open women 1,000m and the long distance 10-mile race.

In the 1,000m race, they paddled through low tides and clocked in at 6:45.19, and in the long-distance race, fought through stormy weather to clock in at 1:55:11.99.

MPP’s two bronze medals brought to a total 16 medals for the CNMI—seven gold, four silver, and five bronze.

In place of MPP president Maria Ornes, Arielle Buyum said, “The 2023 Micro Cup was an incredible event. Marianas Pacific Paddlers could not be more proud of the performance of our women athletes. They stayed focused throughout the event not letting low tides during the sprints and stormy weather during the long distance deter them from their goals.”

She added, “Every single MPP paddler contributed their highest athletic performance throughout the entire event.”

Buyum said, “The women of MPP would like to thank our coach, Eddie Johnson, for his wisdom and guidance. We also extend a special thank you to our aid tent team and all the people who came out to cheer us on in Guam. Finally, a heartfelt thank you to our family, friends and loved ones who gave us the support and encouragement over the past several months of training. Our outcome would not have been possible without them.”

MPP thanks their generous donors, namely SafeHouse, EFC Services Corporation, Micronesian Environmental Services, Bridge Capital, Joeten Motors, Robert Torres Attorney at Law, TurnKey Solutions, Saipan Select, Micronesian Brokers, Canaan Realty, Stitched, Saipan Vegas, Mark Gibson, Rep. Edwin K. Propst (D-Saipan), and MB Tech Micronesia.

MPP’s team included Buyum, Jasseline Seman, Shelli Neal, Joannie Reyes, Frances “Shine” Santos, Vina Seelam, Solly Takai, Molly Dennert, Amanda Santos, Carmilynn Ogumoro, Mardee Hermosilla, Maggy Moussalem, Max Garcia, Selmalyn Lopez Taitano, Shirley Ann Taitano Deleon Guerrero, and Nina Manglona.

For Northern Marianas National Paddling Sports Federation president Justin Andrew, he said the overall performance of all clubs under NMNPSF—Saipan Paddling Club, Marianas Outrigger Club, and MPP—was “outstanding”.

With that, Andrew thanked their member clubs, their coaches, and athletes “for an amazing showing and performance. The NMI sent close to 70 outrigger paddlers to Guam and I commend their respective clubs for their support of our regional outrigger event.”

The competition itself was well organized and ran smoothly, despite challenges like the low tide, said Andrew. “Tide was a concern—because of low tide in the morning, the sprint races started late around 10:30am…. and with the number of teams and race heats to be done, we were worried we may race until dark… but the race director and his team managed to pull it off before sunset.”

He said the highlights of the competition was that, “seeing the level of competition that brought out the best in all paddlers was impressive—our NMI paddlers put on an incredible performance that will be a record for a long time.”

“On behalf of the NMNPSF and its member clubs, I would like to thank the Guam Kayak and Canoe Federation and Haggan Outrigger Canoe Club for putting on a great outrigger paddling race event—special thank you to my good paddling buddy coach Ron Ruiz, the race director, and his amazing team for a job well done,” he said.