Santos, Chavez top Triple J 5K Bubble Color Run

Out of the over 1,300 participants of the 2024 Triple J 5K Bubble Color Run on a very colorful Saturday morning, Mount Carmel School’s Victor Nash Santos won by a literal neck in a neck-and-neck race for first place overall.

The course started at the Micro Beach parking lot behind Hyatt Regency Saipan, headed up north to Puerto Rico, then to the finish at the Hyatt Regency Saipan Club Elan parking lot.

In a close race to the finish, Santos leaned forward just enough to beat out Marianas High School’s Pony Tang with a time of 18:26.26, while Tang was right at his heels with a time of 18:26.76. Third place went to Sildrey Veloria who clocked in at 19:21.

Saipan International School’s Andrei Kaithlyn Chavez was the first overall female with a time of 22:36. She was followed by Julie Ruszala at 25:07, and third was Lovel Spaeth at 25:28.

The male junior division (14-19 years old) Top 3 were also first place Santos and second place Tang, while third place was Yile Wang at 19:33.

The female Junior division Top 3 was also Andre Kaithlyn Chavez, then Catherine Paz at 27:46; and tied at third place were Julie Chavez and Megan Elayda at 32:45 each.

In the male youth division (13U), Gauis Rowada was first at 33:43; second went to Gabriel Walsh with a time of 34:15; and third was Joshua Yoo at 36:22.

In the female youth division, Spaeth was first with her 25:28 time, followed by Janaya Lee at 25:32, then Sireane Deleon Guerrero with 25:46.

Santos said he overdid it in the last turn after he sprinted all out and all he could see was a stretch of road. He was actually far behind in the beginning but moved up at the halfway point, then started getting closer around the third kilometer, where he caught up to Veloria and Tang who led most of the way.

Toward the finish line, it was he and Tang side by side, so Santos said he knew he had to go faster. “I saw him and I just wanted to secure the win, so it turned out well,” he said about the way too close finish.

The 16-year-old said he joined last year’s run and as it is a community fun run, he tried to get as many colors thrown at him at each station in the course.

For Chavez, she said the race was great. “It’s nice that the Triple J 5K is back because it brings everyone out. Honestly, it’s just a fun way to get some exercise in. I was leading the whole way, and I would just slow down at every water station because it’s not a competitive race. This might be one of the races where I can just have fun. I join every year,” she said.

The funds raised will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Commonwealth Cancer Association.

Platinum sponsors were: TanHoldings, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, Hagu Real, and United Airlines; Gold sponsors were Island Image and Motion, Saipan Tribune, Marianas Variety, Mobil Oil Marianas, and Run Saipan; Silver sponsors were First Hawaiian Bank, Gold’s Gym, Kensington Hotel Saipan, McDonald’s Saipan, Elliot Systems, Micronesian Brokers, Bank of Guam, Foremost/Coca Cola; Bronze sponsors were Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Docomo Pacific, IT&E, Marpac, Wushin Corp.n, and Saipan Ice and Water Company; Race sponsors were Hyatt Regency Saipan, STAR Water, and WSTCO. A special thank you to National Park Service, Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Department of Public Safety, and Sound Hire.

Results of the rest of the divisions will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.