Local runners take top spots in MVA Half Marathon and 10-K

Local running enthusiasts Jung Young Kim and Marcan Aldan emerged from a pack of 215 early risers to take the tape of the 24th Annual Saipan Half Marathon & 19th Annual 10-kilometer Fun Run this past Saturday hosted by the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Northern Marianas Islands at the American Memorial Park.

The 32-year-old Kim is no stranger to the sport, as you can usually see him running along the roads and pathways of Saipan on any given day.

On Saturday, he performed at the top of his game to take the tape over runners ranging in age from 20 to 63 with an incredible time of 1:24:40 in the half marathon. Kim ran so well in the 13.2-mile race that he finished better than 28 participants of the approximately six-mile Fun Run.

Kim finished some seven minutes ahead of second place finisher, fellow local Dirk Sharer (1:31:38), and roughly nine minutes ahead of third-place finisher Hiroshi Maru.

Other notable local finishers in the half marathon were fourth place John Douglas (1:34:30), Yosh Gabaldon (1:35:48), Chris Fryling (1:38:01), Russ Quinn (1:38:05), Ketson “Jack” Kabriel (1:44:44), Kelly Johnson (1:47:14), and Michael Johnson (1:50:08).

The top female finisher of the half marathon was Sayuri Yuyama, who finished 13th overall with a time of 1:41:11. Yuyama was followed by second-place finisher Akiko Hagiwara (1:45:29) and Nagisa Tobi (1:56:27) in third. Local triathlete Dawn Hammermeister finished in a strong fifth place with a time of 1:58:20.

Aldan was the first runner of the morning to cross the finish line alongside the Hyatt Regency Saipan, as he finished the 10km run with a blazing time of 45:47. The 18-year-old just returned from a strong showing in Australia where he represented the CNMI in the long-distance events of the Oceania Open & Under 18 Area Track and Field Championships, and he had to finish swiftly because he had Tom Austin hot on his trail. Austin crossed the line just four seconds after Aldan to take second place (45:51).

The fastest female in the 10km was also the third-place finisher overall, as Noriko Jim crossed the line in 46:18, well ahead of second place Shawna Ping (52:50) and Ritsuko Harada (54.13). Finishing in fourth place for the women was promising 16-year-old distance runner Bo Wang (55:51), followed by the 10-year-old team of Reylynn Sapong (1:31:29) and Lia Rangamar (1:31:30).

Other local notables finishing the 10km race were Jeremy Winkfield (49:45), Butch Sublemente (51:39), Gary Padsing (50:04), Fred Camacho (53:42), Elias Rangamar (1:05:17), Wolf Mojica (1:10:49), Ted Parker (1:15:34), and David Ada Jr. (1:37:55).

For more information about the 24th Annual Saipan Half Marathon & 19th Annual 10-kilometer Fun Run, contact Ed Johnson at the Marianas Visitors Authority office by calling 664-3226/483-3205 /236-7156 (Pager), Elias Rangamar by calling 670-664-2503, or Kurt Barnes by calling 234-5498 ext. 1008.