O’Sullivan, Chavez first to run from ‘23

Chef Jody O’Sullivan and student-athlete Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez ran away from 2023 the fastest during Run Saipan’s Run from 2023 Mile Race on New Year’s Eve last Sunday.

O’Sullivan set the inaugural course record at 4:59 for the new course that spanned the newly paved Industrial Road in front of the Gov. Eloy S. Inos Peace Park in Puerto Rico to the entrance to the Smiling Cove Marina.

Chavez was first in the women’s division with a time of 5:56. Second went to Ann Bang at 7:15 and Shiela Mabutas was third at 7:58.

Second to O’Sullivan was Pony Tang at 5:07 and third was Kosuke Sato who clocked in at 5:14.

This is one of a few Run Saipan races with a prams/stroller age divisions, with Anastasiia and Alexander “Sasha” Dela Cruz claiming the stroller division with a time of 9:49.

The 14U boys first place went to Eamon Tang at 6:18 and Victor Neil Santos was second at 6:40.

The 18U division went to Rex Pixley at 5:17; second was Victor Nash Santos with a time of 5:25; and third was Simon Tang at 5:35.

The 19-34 age group Top 3 were Simon Necesito at 7:35; Kurt Songsong with 7:38; and Ricky Santiago at 8:28.

The 50-54 men’s age group was a close race between James Abuy and Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero. Abuy overtook Deleon Guerrero in the last meters of the race to claim first at 7:40 and Deleon Guerrero settled for second at 7:40.1.

Chiharu Sato was the lone runner for the women’s 50-54 age group who came in with a time of 8:21, and Cary Bertoncini was the only runner in the 55-59 and came in at 7:08.

O’Sullivan said that he runs the course all the time as he lives nearby and said that the race was great. “The race was good fun. Of course, there was a strong tailwind, so that helped an enormous amount,” he said.

With the new course record under his belt, he said he hopes to defend the title next year.

Chavez said of the new course, “The course was actually nice and fun. It was flat and a bit downhill too. I was leading the whole time so I just told myself to squeeze the gap between the guys in front. It was honestly a great way to end the year with an early 1-mile race because it was quick and short.”

She then thanked people behind the scenes “for making tons of competitive races this year.” As for her sports and competitive goals in 2024, she said, “Since soccer has less competitions next year, I’m looking forward to focusing more on running and hopefully compete in the races happening during the summer and achieve new PB’s.”

Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz Jr. said that the new course is what they’ll be sticking to now for their future end of the year races as it’s much safer and more runner friendly.

He thanked the Northern Marianas Athletics, volunteers, officials, and all the runners that came out. “I know it’s pretty hard to wake up on a holiday eve morning where you want to sleep in. But, thank you guys so much for taking the time to come out and run our shortest and fastest race of the entire year,” he said.

He added, “congratulations to Jody O’Sullivan for making the record under a five-minute mile. Now if anybody wants to break the new course record, they have to run faster than 4:59. If anybody wants to break the course record, on Beach Road or Marianas Resort, they have to beat Keith Ketola’s time set in 2022 of 4:14.” Dela Cruz then thanked Saipan Tribune and Marianas Variety for the coverage.

To check out the runners’ times, click https://results.onetime.sport/activities/event/995cf799-07a5-449d-9210-bdbf91b49677.