SPC Juniors sweep Day 2

The blue hues of Saipan Paddling Club’s uniform made them one with the sparkling ocean off the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan as their junior teams excelled on Day 1 and Day 2 last Friday and last Saturday during the three-day 24th Micronesia Cup Canoe Race.

They dominated Day 1, with results posted last Monday, and ruled Day 2 once again—this time—with a sweep of V6 500m and 1,500m races.

In the junior women’s V6 500m finals, SPC bagged gold with a time of 2:35.28. Silver was Guam’s Puti’on Tasi at 2:43.99, while Guam’s Maneran Galaide settled for bronze at 2:50.33. Fourth place was Guam’s Taotao Galaide at 2:52.09, while SPC 2 was fifth place at 2:59.23.

SPC 1 junior men’s team also racked up a gold in the V6 500m finals with a time of 2:15.45. Puti’on Tasi claimed silver at 2:21.65, and Taotao Galaide won bronze at 2:52.91. In fourth place was Maneran Galaide at 2:31.14, while SPC 2 was fifth with a time of 2:51.17.

In the junior mixed V6 division, SPC 1 won the gold medal once again when they clocked in at 2:22.12. SPC 2 won silver with their time of 2:25.37, while Puti’on Tasi won bronze with 2:27.57. Taotao Galaide was fourth at 2:33.00; Maneran Galaide came in fifth at 2:34.90; and Guam’s Haggan Juniors placed sixth at 2:43.39.

In the longer 1,500m races, SPC junior women’s V6 team paddled their way to their second gold of the day with a time of 9:48.96. Silver went to Puti’on Tasi at 10:16.17, while bronze was Taotao Galaide at 10:55.67.

SPC 1 junior men’s V6 team outpaced everyone for their second gold of the day with a time of 8:47.84. Puti’on Tasi settled for silver again at 9:27.33, while bronze was once again Taotao Galaide at 9:46.89.

Then in the mixed V6 1,500m finals, SPC 2 left SPC 1 behind for a golden finish of 8:49.86. SPC 1 settled for silver at 9:43.93, while bronze was Haggan Juniors at 10:04.97.

Tyler Andrew, who led SPC 1 on Day 1 and 2, said of last Saturday’s sweep, “Our performance was very good… It was definitely the goal but I wouldn’t say it was expected.”

On how having home waters advantage worked in their favor, he said, “We knew how the water and bumps work—all the spots. So, we kind of had that leverage over the other teams.” He added that their team’s chemistry is unmatched as they hang out a lot even outside practice, so that was translated in the way they move their canoe through the water.

As for the competition, he said, “Competition was great. They really gave us a fight and boosted our adrenaline.”

Results of the rest of last Saturday’s finals, as well as results of the last day of races last Sunday—the long-distance races, will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.

The CNMI teams were Marianas Outrigger Club, Saipan Paddling Club, and Marianas Pacific Paddlers.

The teams from Guam include Animun Tasi, Bihun Tasi, Haggan Jrs., Maneran Galaide, Napu, PFM, Poksai Canoe Club, Puti’on Tasi, and Taotao Galaide.

The lone team from RMI that made the long trip to Saipan is the Majol Canoe Paddling Club.

NMNPSF would like to thank the following sponsors: Tan Holdings, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, Crowne Plaza, IT&E, MARPAC, Marianas Visitors Authority, Turnkey Solutions, The Athlete’s Foot, Paradise Realty Saipan, Marianas Pacific Paddlers, Micronesia Brokers, H.K. Pangelinan & Associates, LLC, Coca Cola, UR Tents, Northern Marianas College’s media team, Hafa Adai Rent A Car, and Herman’s Bakery.

Special thanks to the Saipan Mayor’s Office, Department of Fire and Emergency Management Services, Division of Parks & Recreations, Rep. John Paul Sablan (Ind-Saipan), Vince Castro, Next Level Media CNMI, Christopher Toto, Angie Yarormad, CNMI Designs, KKMP, Pacific Development, Inc., Chamolinian Cultural Village Inc., Wiski Services, 500 Sails, Pualani Crown, Mariana Islands Nature Alliance, I Napu Dance Group, Da Kine, Tipiyew Bwiibwis, and Asia Hilario.