TAGAMAN TRIATHLON Continental provides tickets for NMI winners

As the entry deadline for the Tagaman Triathlon approaches, Tagaman Organizing Committee was informed by Continental Airlines that the airlines will provide round trip tickets to Cairns, Australia, for the best male and female finishers from the CNMI, from next month’s Tagaman Triathlon, to participate in the Cairns Half Ironman Triathlon on June 11, 2000.

In hopes of further developing major sporting events within the region, Continental is offering this valuable prize incentive. Continental is already providing tickets for the top competitors from each station within this region in addition to running caps and singlets for all participants.

The organizing committee also noted that Mr. Ichikawa from ATC of Japan will bring six triathlon officials in addition to Mr. Onishi from KFC of Japan to assist in this year’s event.

The organizing committee also wishes to announce that on the following day, May 21st, the first Sophia Walk will take place from the American Memorial Park to the Saipan Grand Hotel starting at 8:00 a.m., following the Beach Walk path. This is strictly a walk and not a race, and over 100 walkers are expected from Japan.

For the Tagaman, several top Japanese triathletes will be competing for the top prizes including Hideya Miyazuka, three-time Tagaman winner; Michael Trees, two-time Tagaman winner; Hiroe Sakurai, 3rd place in 1998, and high ranked triathletes who have not yet done the Tagaman, Masayoki Matsumaru and Sachiko Hayashi.

Scott Penny, 4th place finisher in 1999, who is organizing a group from Australia to compete in this year’s Tagaman, informed the committee that two pros from Australia will enter this year’s event. They are Caroline Cooksley from Sydney and Reece Rackley from the Gold Coast.

Scott conducted a clinic here in January, thanks to the assistance of Continental Airlines, and he has offered to remain a week after the Tagaman to again conduct clinics for triathletes here in the NMI.

Last month, two-time Tagaman triathlete from Korea, Yu Hun Park, was on Saipan coaching three of Korea’s national team members. Coach Park hopes to bring more triathletes to this year’s event on May 20th.

The deadline for the May 20th Tagaman Triathlon is April 2l, 2000. Applications are available at PDI, Ada Gym, MVA, and the office of JM and Associates. Applications for the Sophia Walk are also available at the same locations.