Koreans finish 1-2-3 in women’s pro class

Korean cyclists swept the podium in the women’s pro/elite division of 2023 Hell of the Marianas Century Cycle last Saturday.

Miso Kim was the fleetest on two wheels in the 100-kilometer-long course that traversed the north, south, east, and west of Saipan—including 4,900 feet of ascents—with a time of 3:44:21.

Countrywomen Jiseon Jang and Jo Ara were a far second and third after crossing the finish line in 4:06:14 and 4:06:26, respectively.

Kim said through an interpreter that at the begging it was sunny and the weather was nice, but later there were a lot of rain and it became windy. That’s when she ascertained why the event is called the Hell of the Marianas.

What made the 33-year-old amateur cyclist’s feat more impressive was she finished first by more than 20 minutes despite a mishap.

Speaking through an interpreter again, Kim said she figured in an accident in the final leg of the course while cornering and the bad slip left her with scrapes on the forearms and legs.

The mishap aside, she said she thoroughly enjoyed her first Hell of the Marianas experience.

She describes herself as just someone who loves to ride a bike and promised she will definitely come back next year to defend her title.

Saipan elite cyclists—Robyn Spaeth (4:25:51), Kimiko McKagan (4:45:20), and Kathy Ruszala (5:24:24)—make up the rest of the participants in the women’s pro/elite level.

In the non-pro women’s division, cyclists from the former Hermit Kingdom dominated the Top 2 places with Eunji Bong and Charlotte Dixon submitting times of 4:16:57 and 5:09:38, respectively.

Saipan’s teenage road bike and motorbike sensation, Jillian Christi “J.C.” Ferrer, broke into the Top 3 after crossing the finish line in 5:19:06.

A total of seven female riders took on the challenge of the 100K course—Korea’s Seonghee Park (5:20:34) and Jian Shin (5:36:38), Saipan’s Kerri Bauer (5:43:58), and Korea’s Song Ha (6:16:14).

Like the Top 10 men, the Top 7 women who conquered the 100K course pocketed between $300 and $25.

In the road bike 50K, Jay Anne Felipe ruled the roost in 1:46:18, followed by Shawna Brennfleck and Marjorie Ganacias in 1:49:29 and 1:56:23, respectively. All of them hail from Saipan.

The MTB short course was a two-horse race between local riders Beth Kohnen (2:11:48) and Kris Romero (2:33:40).

The 2023 Hell of the Marianas Century Cycle was sponsored by Seman Law Offices LLC, Tan Holdings and Tan Siu Lin Foundation, IP&E, TurnKey Solutions, Triple J Group of Companies, Pacific Trading Co., Hyatt Regency Saipan, The Bike Shop Saipan, Marpac Inc., and Herman’s Modern Bakery. It was organized by the Northern Mariana Islands Cycling Federation with help from the Marianas Visitors Authority.