South Pacific Games Triathletes prove their readiness

The CNMI’s Triathlon Team is going into the South Pacific Games (SPG) on a high note as each member of the team broke their personal best records in the recent Tagaman competetion.

Coach Susan Burr is excited about the team’s chances following the popular trathlon. “We had awesome performances at the Tagaman, which is a longer race than the SPG course,” said Burr.

All six members of the CNMI’s South Pacific Games (SPG) Triathlon Team competed in Saturday’s Tagaman Triathlon held on Saipan. All six members of the team proved that they are well-qualified to represent the CNMI in the SPG triathlon to be held on Guam June 5th. Rai Manglona, Rudy Santos, Rena Carlson, Nicole Forelli, Gregg Kresge, and Stuart Smith completed the grueling Tagaman course with sellar results and are now ready to tackle the shorter course next month.

Forelli and Carlson placed fourth and sixth place, respectively, for the women. This was only the second time in Tagaman history that the CNMI was represented in the top six for the women. Combined with Susan Burr’s second place finish the CNMI swept three of the top six awards. Forelli’s 1999 finish was a full 23 minutes faster than last year’s finish and the first time she completed the Tagaman under four hours.

Stuart Smith led the men’s team with an impressive second place finish. He finished seven minutes faster than his last year’s fourth place finish. Kresge Knocked 29 minutes of his last year’s time to squeak in the top 20 (finishing 19). Rota’s resident’s Rai Manglona and Rudy Santos, finished a respectable 26th and 51st place, respectively.

Triathletes from New Caledonia, Tahiti, and our southern neighbors from Guam are expected to provide the toughest competition in next month’s event, but, as usual CNMI athletes will rise to the occasion and do their best to represent their nation. “Each one of us is an accomplished runner, and running is the last event, so the race is not over until we’ve completed the last 100 meter’s,” said veteran runner, Rai Manglona. “Triathlon is really an individual sport, but we’ll all be cheering for each other to try to finish in the top three as a team,” said Rena Carlson. “Our goal is to make triathlon CNMI sport. We’ve proven our worth in the Tagaman and now we’re going to show what we’re made of to the rest of the Pacific community,” said Smith, the Triathlon Federation President.

Please be on the look-out for our athletes, who will still be out on the roads, dilligently training for the next month’s event. Support their dedication to their sport and the CNMI and give them a wave–Rota style.

For more information, contact Susan Burr (664-8504) or Stuart Smith (322-7117).