Continental Renews Commitment for New Millennium Tagaman

Continental Airlines recently confirmed its participation as a major sponsor in this year’s New Millennium Tagaman Triathlon, to be held May 19. 2001 on Saipan.

The 12th Annual Tagaman Triathlon will reflect a “new” course recommended by Japan’s Taro Shirato and Hideya Miyazuka, and Australia’s Scott Penny, all triathletes who have competed in numerous past tagaman’s.

The new course will begin with a swim off the Pacific Islands Club beach, swimming an out and back course parallel to the beach, then a short run up through the old parking lot on the south side of the hotel where the first transition will be staged.

The triathletes then get on their bikes and ride a loop through Koblerville, (Hwy 33), and returning on Hwy 305 back down the Koblerville road and along Beach Road (Hwy 33), through Garapan, up Hwy 37 at the CHC intersections, onto Middle Road northwards (Hwy 30) all the way to Bird Island.

There will be a turn around at this point, then it will be back the same way to American Memorial Park via Banzai Cliff.

The same transition in the American Memorial Park will be setup, but the transition roadway will be divided into three section, one for the bike finish, one for the run to pass through, and finally one for the finish line.

The only change in the 15km Run will be the return.

Runners will leave the transition as before, running south along Beach Pathway, except for Garapan, as the runners come back through the transition at AMP then continue for a 4km loop through the American Memorial jogging path, coming back out on the main road by the Monument and the Police Station, then turning towards Micro Beach and the Finish Line.

The total distances remain the same, only the course has been changed.

Several past Tagaman triathlon have been in touch with the organizing committee and are seeking information for the 2001 competition. Organizers are expecting over 200 triathletes and have set up a discounted Entry Fee of $100.00 if payments are made before January 30, 2001. A new course map and application will be ready for distribution by next week.

At the same time time, the organizing committee is also organizing the 2nd Annual 7km Sophia Walk, from the American Memorial park to the Saipan Grand Hotel, which will take place on May 20, 2001. Special customized medals will be given to all finishers of the walk.

Any businesses or individuals wishing to be a sponsor, do an Aid Station or contribute in some way should contact Mr. Wolf Mojica at the 234-6615.

For further information, contact Bill Sakovich at 234-1001, JM Guerrero at 234-3533 or Yoichi Matsumura at 322-8785.