Untalan breaks 1,500m junior record

Champ Untalan took a different approach to Saturday’s Micronesian Athletics Championships qualifying trial and the change resulted in a huge boost.

Untalan pushed hard from the beginning and set a new junior record in the 1,500-meter run while taking first place in the event at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field facility.

The 14-year-old student at Mt. Carmel School, who normally trails at the start of the race by taking a slower pace, changed his game plan and came out strong.

He completed his first 300m in 54 seconds, then followed with times of 1:21, 1:20, and 1:19 in the final three laps to break the record and the five-minute mark.

By the time he rested, Untalan had recorded a time of 4:50.84. He was followed by Yoshi Suzuki at 4:54.95, Tinian’s Reggie Ayuyu at 5:10.78, and Donnie Dosalua at 5:47.46.

Bo Wang was the lone female competitor and clocked in at 5:22.07, while Liane Riley topped the women’s 800m in 3:12.68

Jack Kabiriel won the men’s 800m race in convincing fashion after crossing the finish line in 2:15.77 while Untalan (2:26.93) and Rezne Wong (2:32.90) followed in second and third. Antonio Tiples took fourth place in 2:53.51.

Darrel Roligat was the lone sprinter in the men’s 100m and clocked in at 11.56 seconds, while Reylynn Sapong topped a tightly fought women’s race in 15.39 seconds. Connie Camacho (15.41) and Lia Rangamar (15.85) placed second and third, while Lyza Lascina (16.13) and Dena Ngirchongor (16.61) placed fourth and fifth. Arcy Moncrief and Lei Rangamar rounded up the competitors with identical times of 20.59 seconds.

Suzuki came back strong and won the 5,000m race with a time of 19:57.71, while Chang Jang Wang placed second in 20:33.98.

Meanwhile, Nick Gross continued to post impressive numbers in the men’s javelin throw after recording distances of well over 50 meters in all four tries. His best throw of the day came on his second attempt when the spear landed 56.26 meters across the field.

Vanessa Mobel was the top performer in the women’s corner with a throw of 29.68 meters, while Moncrief (24.30) and Camacho (18.88) finished in second and third. Lei Rangamar threw for 17.67 for fourth.

Rangamar had her shining moment earlier in the day after taking the discus competition with a distance of 27.15 meters. She was followed by her mom, Doris, who threw for 25.95, while Camacho (24.04) and Moncrief (21.15) placed third and fourth.

Sidro Tebuteb won the men’s discus with a throw of 31.71 meters while Ronald Olopai (30.84) and Gross (30.61) placed second and third. Jesse Atalig also put up a decent performance with a throw of 26.09 meters.

Doris Rangamar was strong in the women’s shot put and topped the event with a throw of 9.18 meters. Moncrief and Lei Rangamar rounded up the top three with distances of 8.39 and 6.98 meters.

For his part, Olopai powered his way to topping the men’s shot put with a throw of 11.20 meters, while Tebuteb (10.73) and Atalig (9.18) placed second and third.

The MAC will be held on Dec. 14 and 15 on Saipan, playing host to athletes from the CNMI, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshalls, Palau, Kiribati, and Nauru.

For more information, contact NMA coaches director Elias Rangamar at 664-2502, president Kurt Barnes at 235-5853, or treasurer Robin Sapong at 235-6500.