Finals of interscholastic canoe tomorrow

Two months of racing outrigger canoes in the Saipan Lagoon every other weekend has come down to two days of competition that could make or break a season’s worth of work, as the 2005 Interscholastic Outrigger Canoe League Championships take place this weekend on the waters off Kilili Beach in Susupe.

Teams from Marianas High School, Kagman High School, and Saipan Southern High School are engaged in a close battle after eight weeks of racing, and due to the scoring process in the finals, anyone can still win.

The current standings have KHS out in front of second place MHS, and SSHS, but only by the slimmest of margins, and according to coordinator Robert Jordan.

“All the teams have been working very hard and the battle for first, second and third overall is still anyone’s game. This one is for all the bragging rights so it should be very exciting,” said Jordan.

The teams will line up for their final round of sprint races at 8am tomorrow morning, and continue with the 500-meter and 1,500-meter lengths until they wrap up for the day at roughly 12:30pm.

After a season of racing nothing but sprints, the teams will face the ultimate challenge of the approximately 7.2 miles distance course on Sunday morning. Beginning at Kilili Beach, the paddlers will make their way north to the Garapan fishing base before turning south to the tanks near AJ’s Bar and Restaurant in Susupe, and returning to Kilili for the finish.

“We will have a chase boat for safety, but we still need volunteers to help out with the officiating, timing, record keeping, etc. And the paddlers need the support of spectators as well,” said Jordan

Adding more drama to this weekend’s race is the fact that while several teams in other sporting events sending teams to the Mini-SPG’s have finalized their rosters, the NMICF still has positions remaining.

“The high school students still have just as much of a chance to land a spot on the team as the adults,” said Jordan.

While the public schools have been enjoying success along the water, it the goal of the Northern Marianas Islands Canoe Federation to get as many of the local schools involved as possible.

“We tried to get the private schools out there this year but they weren’t able to do it. We definitely want to see them out there next time,” said Jordan.

Following the two-day affair, team trophies and individual medals will be given out at the awards ceremony on Sunday afternoon, including most improved paddler, the scholar-athlete award, and additional yet to be specified awards that the teams are putting together.