ACS sweeps HS athletics champs, again

Agape Christian School Torchbearers once again swept the 18U boys/girls high school division in the PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field 2023-2024 championships last Friday night and Saturday morning at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field.

For the fourth year in a row, the ACS boys were the fastest overall team on the track as they garnered a total 90 points for the gold medal. Silver went to Marianas High School who collected 86 points, while Kagman High School claimed bronze with 79 points.

In the girls division, the Lady Torchbearers team bagged gold with a whopping 149 points; Saipan Southern High School Lady Manta Rays were silver at 56 points, and Saipan International School Lady Geckos settled for bronze with 48 points.

Last Friday, ACS’ Jireh Wang grabbed gold in the 1,500m finals with a time of 4:34.04. Silver went to MHS’ Michael Miller at 4:40.90, and bronze was MHS’ Takeru Jim at 4:49.53.

Wang had a silver run in the 800m race at 2:12.30, while bronze went to teammate James Fan who came in at 2:18.33. Gold went to MHS’ Cody Shimizu at 2:11.47.

For the girls long jump event, ACS’ Mary Zhu jumped 4.15m which was good for silver. Gold went to SSHS’ Haani Passi with a jump of 4.25m and bronze went to teammate Casey Cruz at 4.04m.

Zhu also grabbed another silver in the 800m race with a time of 2:52.58. Saipan International School’s Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez earned gold with her time of 2:32.08, while ACS’ Barbara Wang came in third with 2:54.62.

Zhu’s bronze came in the 400m race with her time of 1:12.07. Chavez claimed another gold with a time of 1:06.06, and silver went to Cruz who clocked in at 1:08.36. Another bronze for Zhu was in the 100m race at 14.52 seconds. Cruz had the gold medal with the fastest time of 12.88, while KHS’ Filomenoleonisa Iakopo had silver with a 13.60 second sprint.

Barbara Wang also notched a silver in the 1,500m race with a time of 6:12.74. Gold went to Chavez at 5:42.57, and bronze was MHS’ Catherine Pan at 6:13.49.

Last Saturday, Jireh Wang was the fastest in the 3,000m middle distance race and had sole possession of gold with his time of 10:03.62. Silver was Miller at 10:23.94, and bronze went to ACS’ Fan with a time of 10:24.84.

Jireh Wang was also the fastest in the 1,500m with a time of 4:34.04. Silver went to Miller at 4:40.90, and bronze was teammate Takeru Jim who finished at 4:49.53.

In the girls 3,000m, Barbara Wang ran her way to bronze with her time of 13:56.75. Gold was Chavez once again at 12:07.47, while silver was Pan at 13:48.26.

In the 1,500m, Barbara Wang claimed silver as she clocked in at 6:12.74. Gold was none other than Chavez with a time of 5:42.57, and bronze went to Pan at 6:13.49.

Then, Zhu sprinted her way to bronze in the 200m race at 30.59 seconds, while gold went to Cruz at 27.09 seconds. Silver was Iakopo at 28.20 seconds.

In the 4x100m relay, the Torchbearers boys team earned the school another gold with their time of 49.29 seconds. Silver went to KHS at 49.45 seconds, and bronze was SIS at 50.64.

ACS’ boys team also dominated the 4x400m relay with a time of 4:01.72. Silver was KHS at 4:10.97, and bronze went to MHS at 4:15.30.

For the ACS girls team, they ran their way to gold too with a time of 5:13.15. Silver went to MHS at 5:34.64.

ACS’ Jacob Wang added another medal with a bronze finish in the shotput throw at 9.67m. Gold was Tinian High School’s Mefi Norech-Lazaro at 10.70m, and silver was Grace Christian Academy’s Julian Taitano with a 10.42m mark.

ACS’ Silvia Zucca grabbed silver in the shotput with a mark of 7.83, while gold went to GCA’s Azriel Fatialofa at 8.74m. Bronze was ACS’ Esther Zhao at 7.73m.

Finally, in the discus throw, Zucca handed ACS another gold with a mark of 23.69m. THS’ Abbygaile Ong won silver with her throw of 22.10m, while bronze was Zhao at 21.35m.

ACS administrator and pastor Kok H. Pang attributed his school’s continued success in athletics to prioritizing physical fitness along with academics.

“Well, we believe education is not just studying but in other areas like arts, music, and math—all around. A lot of times the physical part is very lacking, so we believe physical training for students is so important,” he said.

With that, he said, “Sports gives students confidence and coordination. This helps their studies also.” Before the season, he said the team had two months of training.

“We are thankful to the Lord and thankful for NMA, PSS, McDonald’s and all the organizers,” said Pang.

Results of the 14U middle school boys/girls divisions will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.