BSS sweeps again; SIS, DMS top middle school in Gecko 5000

Although the weather is unpredictable—as usually seen in the CNMI at this time of year—one thing’s been sure lately, and that is Brilliant Star Montessori School sweeping the elementary school division this cross-country season.

The young elementary school runners from BSS swept their third qualifier in the PSS/NMA All Schools Cross-Country 2024-2025 at the Banzai Cliff last Saturday morning.

The Gecko 5000 1-mile course did not intimidate, but took breaths away with its stunning early morning views—yet BSS runners hastily ran through the finish line without even breaking a sweat.

BSS girls accumulated 22 points for first place, Mount Carmel School Knights was second with 32, and third was Saipan International School Lady Geckos with 45.

For the boys division, BSS collected 57 points; second was MCS at 62; and third was San Vicente Elementary School Canaries at 63.

Even the individual first-place runners were a repeat of the past two qualifiers as in the boys division, Grace Christian Academy Eagles’ Beau Bauer powered through with a time of 7:05. Second was SVES’ O’Marion Reyes at 7:29, and third was SIS’ Gabriel Walsh with 7:39.

For the girls, Lovel Spaeth came out on top for the third time just a second behind Bauer at 7:06. Second was Angela You of Agape Christian School Torchbearers over a minute later at 8:09, and third was BSS’ Claire Fehrenbacker at 8:12.

In the 2-mile course of the middle school division, the Lady Geckos placed first again for the third time with 12 points; second was Dandan Middle School Tottots at 35; and third was Hopwood Middle School Hilitais with 46.

The boys were dominated by the Tottots at 23 points; second was SIS with 34; and third was Chacha Ocean View Middle School who garnered 43 points.

Saipan Community School’s Alyssa Pailin Brasuell was first in the girls individual standings with a time of 15:21; second was SIS’ Faith Arriola at 15:54; and third was SIS’ Scarlett Bernell at 16:01.

In the boys division, first place was DMS’ Jacob Escabo who came in at 14:16; second was ACS’ Lucas Yang at 14:19; and third was DMS’ Yuxi Lu with 14:36.

Dr. Ron Snyder, SIS headmaster and coach and meet director, said, “The teams keep continuing to impress. Kaithlyn Chavez was injured so could not keep up her streak but her teammate, Addalee Taflinger, took the gold. Agape performed really well in the HS divisions as a team. The SIS MS girls continued their perfect record and DMS boys found retribution in MS boys with a definitive victory.”

Results of the open men’s and women’s Gecko 5000 Fun Run will be published in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.