Athletics team hopes to set some PBs, NMI records in Solomons

With a small and young athletics delegation Pacific Games bound, Northern Marianas Athletics development manager and coach Elias Rangamar said that he hopes they will either set some personal bests or break CNMI athletics records.

During the Games which is from Nov. 19 to Dec. 10, the NMI is sending a delegation with over 100 athletes and coaches to Honiara, Solomon Islands to compete in 10 sports.

For the seven-member athletics team, the team members include Tania Tan, Lyle Andrew, Maria Quitugua, Theodore Rodgers, Alexander Camacho, Casey Cruz, and Pony Tang along with coach Greg Iginoef.

Tan is competing in the 10,000/5,000m/and half marathon, Andrews is for discus/shoput, Rodgers, Camacho, and Cruz are sprinting in the 100m/200m, Quitugua is in the javelin throw, and Tang is competing in the 1,500m/5,000m/and 3,000m steeplechase.

The team was hand-picked for their performance at the Oceania Cup last June. Rangamar said about the team, “We also went with young and up-and-coming athletes in hopes of getting them experience an anticipation of the Micronesian Games in the Marshall Islands this coming year.”

With that, Rangamar said most of the athletes are only in their second year of national team experience and exposure, “so I don’t expect them to be on the podium but what we hope is that they get the experience needed in preparation for the upcoming Micronesian Games.”

He added, “Tania Tan will probably be our only chance of getting on the podium due to her collegiate and international experience. Unfortunately, we just don’t have the funding to be sending our athletes off to more competition and experience.”

As for the athletes’ training Rangamar said they train early in the morning from 5am to 6:30am, Mondays through Saturdays.

“Reasoning for the early morning hours is dealing with the congestion and hassle of walkers and other clubs using the facility in the evenings which is out of our control,” said Rangamar.

Overall, he said, “the athletes have acclimated to the early morning training which in turn gives them more free time in the evening to deal with school work and other activities. Tania Tan trains through the University of Hawaii and will have her own travel arrangements. Lyle Andrews trains out of Guam (University of Guam) will be arriving this Friday to join the team.”

Tan is arriving in the Solomons on Nov. 24 as she said she still has classes and can’t miss a lot of school days, especially with finals approaching.

When asked how she feels heading up to the Games, she said, “I’ve never been to the Solomon Islands so I’m excited to go. I know some people from there through tennis and running so I’m excited to see them again too. Also, since the NMI is chartering a flight, our team would have many more athletes so I’m excited to watch and cheer everyone on!”

She added, “I’m honestly just honored to be given this opportunity to compete for our islands in this competition. Whatever the result may be, I just hope to make our islands and everyone back home proud.”

As for the athletics team, she said, “We have a young team this year but I have confidence that everyone will do their best. Even though I’m not on Saipan, I know the team has been training day in and day out so I can’t wait to see all their training pay off.”

Ramon Tebuteb, NMA president, said, “Just want to extend, on behalf of the board, sincerest Thank you to our coaches, athletes, and parents for their unwavering support, commitment and sacrifices. Their extreme dedication is greatly appreciated.”

He added, “Significantly, and throughout the season our generous sponsors and partners are very much appreciated. I cannot thank them enough. These mixes are the pillars of our community’s wellness in all life’s aspects.”

In the 2022 Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games, athletics delivered two bronze medals by way of Dennis Borja and the women’s 4x100m relay team of Cruz, Zarinae Sapong, Quitugua, and Kina Rangamar.

With a small and young athletics delegation Pacific Games bound, Northern Marianas Athletics development manager and coach, Elias Rangamar said that he hopes they will either set some personal bests or break CNMI athletics records.

During the games which is from Nov. 19-Dec. 10, the NMI is sending a delegation with over 100 athletes and coaches to Honiara, Solomon Islands to compete in 10

sports.

For the seven-member athletics team, the team members include Tania Tan, Lyle Andrew, Maria Quitugua, Theodore Rodgers, Alexander Camacho, Casey Cruz and Pony Tang along with coach Greg Iginoef.

Tan is competing in the 10,000/5,000m/and half marathon), Andrews is for discus/shoput), Rodgers, Camacho, and Cruz are sprinting in the 100m/200m, Quitugua is in the javelin throw, and Tang is competing in the 1,500m/5,000m/and 3,000m steeplechase.

The team was hand-picked for their performance at the Oceania Cup last June. Rangamar said about the team, “We also went with young and coming athletes in hopes of getting them experience an anticipation of the Micronesian Games in the Marshall Islands this coming year.”

With that, Rangamar said most of the athletes are only in their second year of national team experience and exposure, “so I don’t expect them to be on the podium but what we hope is that they get the experience needed in preparation for the upcoming Micronesian Games.”

He added, “Tania Tan will probably be our only chance of getting on the podium due to her collegiate and international experience. Unfortunately we just don’t have the funding to be sending our athletes off to more competition and experience.”

As for the athletes’ training Rangamar said they train early in the morning from 5am to 6:30am, Mondays through Saturdays.

“Reasoning for the early morning hours is dealing with the congestion and hassle of walkers and other clubs using the facility in the evenings which is out of our control,” said Rangamar.

Overall, he said, “the athletes have acclimated to the early morning training which in turn gives them more free time in the evening to deal with school work and other activities. Tania Tan trains through the University of Hawaii and will have her own travel arrangements. Lyle Andrews trains out of Guam (University of Guam) will be arriving this Friday to join the team. “

Tan is arriving in the Solomons on Nov. 24 as she said she still has classes and can’t miss a lot of school days, especially with finals approaching.

When asked how she feels heading up to the games, she said, “I’ve never been to the Solomon Islands so I’m excited to go. I know some people from there through tennis and running so I’m excited to see them again too. Also, since the NMI is chartering a flight, our team would have many more athletes so I’m excited to watch and cheer everyone on!”

She added, “I’m honestly just honored to be given this opportunity to compete for our islands in this competition. Whatever the result may be, I just hope to make our islands and everyone back home proud.”

As for the athletics team, she said, “We have a young team this year but I have confidence that everyone will do their best. Even though I’m not in Saipan, I know the team has been training day in and day out so I can’t wait to see all their training pay off.”

Ramon Tebuteb, NMA president said, “Just want to extend, on behalf of the board, sincerest Thank you to our coaches, athletes, and parents for their unwavering support, commitment and sacrifices. Their extreme dedication is greatly appreciated.”

He added, “Significantly, and throughout the season our generous sponsors and partners are very much appreciated. I cannot thank them enough. These mixes are the pillars of our community’s wellness in all life’s aspects.”

In the 2022 Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games, athletics delivered two bronze medals by way of Dennis Borja and the women’s 4x100m relay team of Cruz, Zarinae Sapong, Quitugua, and Kina Rangamar.