Tania tops Women’s Run 10K

Two-time Pacific Games gold medalist and reigning NMSA Athlete of the Year Tania Tan won the 10K race of the 4th Annual NMI Women’s Run held last Saturday.

The 22-year-old graduate student at University of Hawai’i at Mānoa made short work of the course from the Hyatt Regency Saipan to Tanapag and back with a time of 38:56. Following behind her and securing a second-place finish was Akiko Miller with the time of 43:42, while Addalee Taflinger took third after checking in at 52:30.

Although threatening weather loomed, the runners pushed through and in a brief conversation, Tan shared a little more about the challenging windy and rainy conditions.

“It was really windy and rainy, especially on the way out. I wasn’t expecting that, but it was overall really fun, so it was good.”

As she gears up to represent the CNMI in the 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, she shared that she joined NMI Women’s Run only for fun.

“Honestly, I was just going out to have fun. I’m here for spring break and the race happened to be here while I was on island, so I was like, I’ll just sign up. Then, yeah, I like how it’s all-women’s only. It was nice seeing a lot of women come out to run here, even just walking. So, yeah, it was nice,” she said, while thanking all the sponsors and organizers of the women’s run.

In the age division, Princes Jose was the only U18 runner who completed the 10K course, finishing in a time of 1:21:57. In the open category, Donna Pascual wrapped up after a 1:40:33 to finish first followed by Cassidy Lizama in 1:49:56.

In the 30-34 division, Jove Taman, Annie Trusso, and Bonny Grow finished 1-2-3 with times of 58:35, 1:01:33, and 1:14:15, respectively.

Kerri Bauer topped the 35-39 division in 57:43, followed by Alyona Gersonde in 1:03:04 and Megumi West in 1:05:58.

The 40-44 age division was won by Angela Taflinger in 55:26 with Shawna Brennfleck in 55:51 and Kathy Ruszala in 57:53 trailing close behind.

Ann Bang and Myuki Ishihara were in the 45-49 with Bang coming in first in 53:01 with Ishihara second in 1:05:54.

Marilou Carlos and Frances Pangelinan competed in the 50-54 open with the former topping the race in 1:01:23 and the latter’s time of 1:31:47 good for second.

Miriam Dilse was the only runner in the 55-59 division and she completed the course with a time of 1:03:22. In the 60-64 division, Marie Sablan tore the tape in 1:19:05, followed by Lynette Tenorio in 1:27:23.

The event, organized by the Northern Marianas Athletics, Run Saipan and the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, was not only held to celebrate International Women’s Day and International Women’s Month 2024, but also to show support to women who were victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

NMCADSV executive director Maisie B. Tenorio shared why such an event was so important as well as extended her gratitude to fellow organizers and sponsors.

“I work at the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. We’re so thankful to Northern Marianas Athletics and Run Saipan for offering to collaborate with us on this event.”

Tenorio said she’s thankful that NMA and Run Saipan reached out to NMCADSV to partner with them in organizing the Women’s Run this year.

“This year they wanted to collaborate with us because they recognized that many fatigued survivors of domestic violence are involved. They just wanted to create an empowering event for all the women in the CNMI but also recognize that some of them may also be survivors. We help organized this event as a way to let survivors know that there are people in the running community who support them, who see them, who want them to thrive, and maybe even use running as a way to help them along their journey. We’re so thankful to NMA and Run Saipan for including us in their annual event.”

Tenorio is now hopeful that the women’s run collaboration with NMA and Run Saipan would become an annual event.

“It’s definitely on the drawing board for something for us to do with them annually. We’re definitely open to it,” she said.

Results of the 5K segment of the 4th Annual NMI Women’s Run will be published in the next issue of Saipan Tribune.