Phillip makes grade in Oceania tourney

From left, Beo Ngirchongor, Zarinae Sapong, and Brandon Phillip, pose for a photo with a volunteer before the opening ceremony of the 2014 Oceania Area Championships last weekend in Cook Islands. (Contributed Photo)

Phillip clocked in at 11.72 seconds in the preliminary race for the junior 100m event last Tuesday, placing third on Heat 2 and getting one of the three qualifying slots to the semifinals. The 19-year-old sprinter finished behind Australia’s Vandeh Kanneh and Utiraoi Takaria, who submitted 11.13 and 11.37 seconds, respectively. Fiji’s Apolosi Ratumudu recorded the fastest qualifying time in the 100m with his 10.75 seconds to lead 18 others to the semis.

In the semis, Phillip missed surpassing his qualifying time after logging 11.80 seconds, but managed to beat Niue’s Roynuka Nukanuka (11.94 seconds) and the host’s Cajuniba Okirua (12.33 seconds). Ratumudu still topped the semis race with a faster time of 10.67 seconds before winning the junior event with a finals time of 10.77 seconds. The Fiji sprinter finished third overall in the finals behind Australia’s Nicholas Bate (10.65 seconds) and Tonga’s Peauope Suli Fifita (10.76 seconds).

Phillip also joined the qualifying heat in the senior 100m race yesterday, but results were unavailable at press time. He was the youngest runner among the 29 participants in the 100m sprint.

Meanwhile, two other CNMI athletes are also competing in the area championships.

Zarinae Sapong raced in the women’s junior 400m and registered 68.49 seconds, missing the semifinal round by only two notches, as she placed eighth in the event. Australia’s Maddy Scott ruled the qualifier with her 57.88 seconds, but settled for third place in the finals, as she lost to champion and compatriot Grace Victor (55.99 seconds) and Jessica Haig (56.44 seconds) also of Australia. Scott recorded 56.66 seconds in the finale.

Beo Ngirchongor also competed in the 400m race for the men’s senior division and nearly advanced to the semifinals. He completed the race in 53.26 seconds to finish at No. 7 overall. The Top 6 runners marched into the semifinals. Papua New Guinea’s Nelson Stone had the best qualifier time at 48.38 seconds, while his teammate Theo Piniau, who was ranked second in the qualifier, stole first place in the finals with a time of 48.49 seconds.

Ngirchongor did the 400m race in the morning and came back at the track in the afternoon for the 200m run. He posted 23.89 seconds in his second event to finish ahead of six other runners. Ngirchongor missed the cut, but defeated Kiribati’s Kiatau Cama (23.94 seconds) and Nooa Takooa (24.13 seconds), Solomon Islands’ Chris Meke Walasi (24.17 seconds), Vanuatu’s David Tasol Maki (24.18 seconds), Palau’s Ian Basiou Koshiba (24.22 seconds), and Guam’s Michael Alisto (24.51 seconds). Stone had the fastest qualifying time (21.79 seconds) and also won in the finals with the same time.

Ngirchongor and his two other teammates are accompanied by Northern Marianas Athletics coach Elias Rangamar. The area championship served as a warm-up for CNMI athletes getting ready for the 8th Micronesian Games, which will be held later next month in Fiji.