Baby Geckos repeat as girls athletics champs

Saipan International School Geckos dominated the girls 12U/9U elementary school division once again for a repeat in the NMA/PSS All Schools Track and Field 2023-2024 last Friday night and Saturday morning at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field.

The Baby Geckos were comfortable on the track and made it their home as they put up stellar performances and accumulated the most points with 107 from 18 events.

Second place went to William S. Reyes Elementary School with 97; third was Koblerville Elementary School with 94 points; fourth was Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School at 62; fifth was Tinian Elementary School at 44 points; Brilliant Star School garnered 39 points; Garapan Elementary School collected 34 points; Oleai Elementary School was at 29; San Vicente Elementary School had 27; Isla Montessori Saipan had 14; Saipan Community School was at 8; Kagman Elementary School was 2; and Sinapalo Elementary School had 1.

The speedy Olivia Walsh in the 9U division and Windsor Gross in the 12U racked up points for their team as they finished first in their respective events.

On Day 1 last Friday, Walsh claimed the top spot in the 800m race with a time of 3:27.58. Second was TES’ Sesa San Nicolas at 3:31.72; and third went to IMS’ Honey Thomsen at 3:32.83.

In the 12U 800m, SIS’ Kaylen Taflinger earned second place with a time of 3:07.07. First went to BSS’ Lovel Spaeth at 3:05.68, and third place was SIS’ Neveah Arriola at 3:13.38.

SIS then claimed second in the 4x400m with a time of 5:38.57. First place was WSR at 5:35 flat; and third was KobES at 5:44.39.

Gross handed SIS silver in the 12U long jump with a distance of 3.43m; first was GTC’s Jhaexian Serion at 3.59m; and third was KobES’ Lei Pebley at 3.38m.

On Day 2 last Saturday, Walsh triumphed once again and was first in the 1,500m race with her time of 7:04.38; a far second went to Thomsen at 7:2057.; and third was BSS’ Aya Smith at 7:32.21.

Gross also topped her 1,500m race and clocked in at 6:15.41; a near second was Spaeth at 6:16.91; and third went to Taflinger at 6:31.52.

Gross then settled for bronze in the 100m sprint with her time of 15.81 seconds; first went to WSR’s Anica Aquino at 15.33 seconds; and third was KobES’ Baylyn Mansfield at 15.49 seconds.

Walsh was first again, this time in the 400m race at a time of 1:26.79; a close second was OES’ Mitchiko Laniyo at 1:26.92; and third went to San Nicolas at 1:29.83.

Gross found herself on top once more in the 400m at 1:14.45; second was Aquino at 1:16.96; and third went to Spaeth at 1:17.05.

Then, their 4x100m team racked up points as they raced into third at 1:07.71; first was KobES at 1:03.50; and second was 1:04.92.

SIS’ 9U roster included Olivia Walsh, Cassidy Ada, Isabella Chi, Micaela Zevallos, Amelia Zevallos, and Myrcella Sanciangco.

Their 12U roster was made up of Windsor Gross, Neveah Arriola, Kaylen Taflinger, Arianna Chi, and Sophia Kim.

New coach for SIS’ girls team, Pamela Walsh, said of their team’s performance this year that it was “interesting” and that they “worked hard, persevered, and finished.”

“Winning the gold is a bonus because we always just want to finish what we start and finish strong,” said Walsh. As for the season overall, she said it was fun. “Most of the elementary from first to fifth grade, we had a lot of participants. We are happy at SIS that everybody is trying to do something new or be part of a team.”

This tournament concludes the elementary school 2023-2024 sports season.

This Friday and Saturday is the 18U/14U middle school/high school PSS/McDonald’s All Schools Athletics 2023-2024 championships round.

Results of the boys division will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.