Half Marathon age group winners announced

Run Saipan announced its age group winners of the 3rd Annual Run Saipan Half Marathon which was held last Saturday.

The 21.1-kilometer/13.1-mile course was from the former Hyatt Regency Saipan’s Club Elan parking lot to the Marpi softball field and back.

Not only were Top 3 overall in the men’s and women’s division awarded, but age groups of the U18, 19-39, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-65 were awarded as well.

Landen Taflinger was the lone runner in the U18 division and came in at 2:04.58.

In the men’s 19-39, Jordan Ruiz was first at 1:52:10; second was Daryn Roufs with a time of 1:53:09; and third went to Aaron Pamintuan at 1:57:04.

The women’s Top 3 in the same age group were Hannoul Sky Lee at 2:18:20; Macie Plagens at 2:32:32; and Jeane Bracken who clocked in at 2:40:41.

The men’s 35-39 was topped by Lucas Simmonds at 2:03:03, while the women’s was topped by Christine Jones at 2:45:09.

Chad Taflinger was the lone runner in the men’s 40-44 and came in at 1:54:08. In the women’s division, Angela Taflinger was first at 2:13:34; second was Kathleen Tolentino at 2:23:17; and third went to Ali Nelson with a time of 2:37:30.

Jov Chavez was the lone runner in the men’s 45-49 and clocked in at 2:45:13. There were no women runners in that age group.

In the men’s 50-54, Matthew Furan was first at 1:59:51; second was James Abuy at 2:06:24; and third went to Raymund Tolentino with a time of 2:10:32.

Mei Hua Jin was first in the women’s division at 2:37:44, while Frances Pangelinan came in second at 3:52:15.

Dr. Ron Snyder was the lone runner in the men’s 55-59 and clocked in at 2:08:47. The women’s division was topped by Jin Zi Wen at 2:37:38. Gui Jie Sun ran into second place at 3:09:27.

And in the men’s 60-65, barefoot runner Chong Nam Lee was the lone runner and rushed in at 1:57:37.

As the 3rd Annual Half Marathon wrapped up, the 4th Annual Run Saipan Half Marathon 2025 registration site is now live. Visit https://raceroster.com/events/2025/94298/2025-run-saipan-half-marathon to register.

Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz Jr. thanked their sponsors Cha Cafe, Atkins Kroll Saipan, IT&E, Aqua Resort Club, The Water Company, the Office of House Speaker Edmund Villagomez, the Office of Vice Speaker Joel Camacho, the Office of Rep. Thomas John Manglona, and the Office of Rep. Malcom Omar.

He also thanked their volunteers, race staff, partners: Northern Marianas Athletics, the Department of Public Safety, Marianas Visitors Authority, HD Weightlifting Academy, Saipan Southern High School Interact Club, American Red Cross-NMI Chapter, and Interact Club. And, he thanked Saipan Tribune and Marianas Variety for the coverage.

Results of the 5K age group winners will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.