Jacob, Faith are MS x-country champs

Dandan Middle School Tottots and Saipan International School Lady Geckos were the fastest middle school cross country runners this season—with two of their runners taking the top spot in their respective divisions of the PSS/NMA All Schools Cross-Country 2024-2025 championships at the Saipan Vegas Country Club last Saturday morning.

Jacob Encabo, who came in first place in two out of the four qualifiers, ended the season strong with a golden run time of 13:09 in the 2-mile, 2-lap race.

Silver was teammate Yuxi Lu with a time of 13:48, while bronze went to Agape Christian School Torchbearer’s Lucas Yang at 14:10.

Encabo, who joined cross-country just this season, said, “It feels good and amazing to win first place.” The 8th grader is a basketball player but decided to join the cross-country team this season and had DMS coaches Jeri Mae Tudela and Simon Necesito to thank.

As for his favorite course this cross-country season, he said it was the championship course at the Saipan Vegas Country Club for its twists and turns and its hills.

In the girls division, SIS’ Faith Arriola, also an 8th grader, ran for gold with a time of 15:17.

Silver went to schoolmate and sister Neveah Arriola at 15:59, while Hopwood Middle School Hilitai’s Kristen Sierra was bronze at 16:30.

Faith said after the race that the championship course was very tiring, but was grateful for the golden finish.

Throughout the season, she was overshadowed by Saipan Community School’s Alyssa Brasuell who won first place in three qualifiers. But in the last qualifier, Arriola took home first place and topped it off with the gold in the championship.

When asked about her overall performance, she said she didn’t do too well in the qualifiers, but made up for that in the championship as she clocked in her best time. She then said, “I would like to thank my mother who pushed me the hardest,” she said.

Results of the elementary school 9U and 12U boys/girls divisions will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.