Velasco, McKagan top 4th Race for a Cause

Heavy rains did not damper 58 participants that tackled the roads of the wild north, with Arvin Velasco and Kimiko McKagan biking into the finish line as the top bikers of the Race for a Cause 4th Annual Bike Race last Sunday at Marpi.

Velasco was first place in the men’s division of the Road Bike Long Course from the former Mariana Resort & Spa to Banzai Cliff, La Fiesta, Bird Island, Suicide Cliff, and back, while McKagan was first in the women’s division of the same course.

Velasco clocked in at 49:31, followed by second place Jay-Ar Barrios at 50:42. Third place by a few seconds was Paolo Pepito at 40:55.

In the inaugural Race for a Cause last 2021, Velasco, who was 28 years old then, won his first ever victory of any bike race he’s joined after he topped the road bike and MTB divisions.

He said of this year’s race, “The race was fun, but the weather was bad, especially in the beginning as it rained before the race started and it poured hard again after we started. The rain stopped towards the middle of the race but the road was already wet and very slippery so everyone was really careful especially going downhill.”

With his win, the 31-year-old dialysis technician at the Commonwealth Health Center said, “Of course I’m very happy to be the first to cross the line because last year I finished third. Just thankful that everyone finished safe.”

McKagan raced into first place with a sub 1-hour time of 59:42. Second was Kathy Ruszala at 1:05:44, and third was Rebecca Wiggins just a couple minutes later with 1:07:49.

McKagan said of the race, “The weather wasn’t good. Sometimes it rained hard during the race. The road was slippery, so we all needed to be careful when cornering or going downhill. The road was wet, so when I was right behind a biker’s tail, I got splashed from a tire and couldn’t open my mouth.”

The hardest part of the course, she said, was right before the finish line at Suicide Cliff. “The strong wind pushed me sideways and I had to get off my bike to avoid crashing. I am thankful to Leilani Ruszala who was babysitting my daughter at [the] finish line.”

In the same long course, the age group division results are as follows:

Renren Gaviola was first in the below 40 age group at 52:48, while second was Reno Academia at 1:03:00.

Macel Nicavera topped the 40-44 age group with a time of 52:40, and Lo Manalo was second just six seconds later at 52:46.

In the 45-49 age group, Elmer Esdrelon was first at 53:54, and second was Ferdz Licayan at 55:16.

Enrique Suba biked into first place of the 50-54 age group at 55:41, while Rusty Valino was second at 56:38.

In the 55-59 age group, Bernard Laborce was first at 58:32; second was Rolly Quihon at 1:05:38; and third was Andrew Estepa with 1:09.50.

And in the 60+ category, Cesar Fortaleza was first at 54:35. Second was Ponce Corotan with 58:37, and third was Greg Clark at 1:11:59.

Results of the MTB Short Course, MTB Long Course, and Road Bike Short Course will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.