All set for NMITFF all schools relay

All is set for the upcoming 1st All Schools Fall Island Relay, which is scheduled to unfold in the early morning hours of next Saturday, Sept. 18.

Hosted by the Northern Mariana Islands Track and Field Federation, the event is open to students from both public and private schools and would feature a course beginning at Micro Beach and concluding at Oleai Sports Complex track and field facility. Runners are to run on the outer portion of the southbound lane along Beach Road. The Beach Road pathway is not part of the course.

Four age group categories have also been set for both boys and girls divisions, including 9-and-under, 11-and-under, 14-and-under, and 18-and-under.

All teams are encouraged to be at the starting point by 6am for check-in as the race will begin at 6:30am.

According to the NMITFF, all schools are allowed one male and female team for each age category. Teams would comprise of five participants.

Participants running the second, third, fourth, and final legs would then need to be transported to their switch off stations before the start of the race.

Each member will run a mile at a time, switching off with another team member when the said distance has been completed. Four stations will be located along Beach Road indicating switch off markers.

Teams will continue switching off until its final member completes the final leg of the race at the track oval. The team anchor will also run a lap and a half before officially competing the race.

Also, each school is required to have a designated vehicle that would follow the team from the starting point to the track oval. The vehicle would also serve to pick up and drop runners at switch-off points throughout the race.

The NMITFF will hold an important briefing for all coaches or school representatives on Thursday, Sept. 16 at the Gilbert C. Ada conference room.

The briefing, scheduled to begin at 4pm, will also serve as deadline for all team rosters.

“It is very important that coaches or school representatives attend this briefing as it will explain all necessary information about the event, including picking and dropping of runners at each station, as well as rules, among others,” the NMITFF said.

The event was originally scheduled to take place last Aug. 28 but was pushed back after NMITFF officials fund the need to allow schools more time to prepare for the event. Majority of public schools were used as shelters during and after the untimely visit by Supertyphoon Chaba, forcing classes to cease for about a week.

For more information, contact board members Kurt Barnes at 234-5498 ext. 1008 or Elias Rangamar at 664-2503. You may also reach them by email at kurtb@nmc.net or eli_rang@yahoo.com.