‘Athletics team exceeded expectations’

The NMI National Athletics Team exceeded coach Elias Rangamar’s expectations during their stint in the 10th Micronesian Games in the Marshall Islands.

With a medal haul of five gold medals, two silver medals, and six bronze medals, for a total of 13 medals, Rangamar said the athletics team beat their record showing from the 2010 Micro Games in Palau.

Not only did the team haul in more than a dozen medals this time, they also set a new Micronesian Games record in the women’s 10,000m by Tania Tan and a new NMI national record in the hammer throw by Lyle Andrew.

The superb performance didn’t stop there as the team’s young sprinters put their best foot forward to make great time and get into the finals of their multiple events. Also, many personal and season’s bests were broken over the course of four days.

Rangamar said in an interview enroute to Saipan last Monday, “I’m very proud of these kids. Even the veteran athletes helped me keep them in line and all that. I really am ecstatic and I think everybody is excited to go back and get ready for the Mini Games in Palau in 2025.”

For Andrew, who set a new national record with his hammer throw of 33.57m, Rangamar said, “he actually told me he might not make it to the Games—but I just told him to shut up and come—and see, he broke the record.”

For Tan’s record-breaking run once again, he said, “We knew—she’s like our gold standard, so we follow her and we’re proud of her. She’s also taking her leadership role in the group. She’s kind of being more open and talking with the younger athletes, so I appreciate that from her.”

He also said that Daniel Joab, who was one of the oldest athletes on the team, did a great job and had a bronze medal to show for it in the hammer throw.

Casey Cruz, who recently competed in Fiji for the 2024 Oceania Athletics Championships a few days before the Micro Games, broke her personal best despite an injury. Rangamar said she will be representing the NMI in the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru from August 27-31.

Meanwhile, seasoned sprinter Zarinae Sapong also broke a personal best in the 100m with a time of 12.87 seconds in the finals, after resetting it the first time in the prelims at 12.95 seconds. She said, “I’m just so happy to break my PB and to have even made it to the finals—and break my PB again… Honestly, I had no idea until my teammates let me know later on when we got on the bus to the village. I’m just very grateful to have come out of the competition healthy and to witness my teammates doing their thing.”

Rangamar said, “I’m just proud of everybody—the whole team. I just have no words to explain. They’re good kids. Takeru Jim and Christopher Cruz are just freshmen and competed against men—and they did pretty good. I’m sure this will help them for next year or in the next Micro Games.”

With how the team’s stint will inspire future track and fielders, he said, “I need them to help me to start inviting friends. They’re really good with social media so that’s another way to inspire kids to try out. Hopefully the media exposure helps too. We’re going to try and see if we can do monthly camps during the off season too to start looking at talents—so when the season comes, everybody has an idea of all the basic stuff.”

As for Team NMI’s medal haul in the Games, he said, “props to Jerry Tan. Since he came in, our sports programs have excelled. It all starts with Jerry and the board [Northern Marianas Sports Association]. And swimming? 49 gold medals? It’s just amazing. And our total of 70 gold? That’s hard to believe—wow. Tennis as well—amazing—but then again, it all starts with Jerry.”

On the athletics team with Tan, Sapong, Casey and Christopher, Lyle, Joab, Jim, were Pony Tang, Jared Ayuyu, Justin Camacho, Cody Shimuzu, Simon Tang, Bwilitomwar Rangamar, Maria Quitugua, Kina Rangamar, Cheraline Epity, and Liamwar Rangamar. Michael Miller was supposed to compete, but he was in the swim team, and Douglas Schmidt didn’t compete as well as he was also in the basketball team.