Track sprinters bag NMASA monthly plum

Track and Field ageless wonder Tony Ichiuo and young sensation Jiovannie Sablan were on the receiving end of positive recognition after the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association declared them top athletes for the month of August.

NMASA, the major sports body in the Commonwealth, also lauded netter Kanani Ashraf and Nicolas San Nicolas as student athletes of the month.

Ichiuo, who has been a part of the track and field spotlight for over a decade, bagged the Male Athlete of the Month plum after winning all events he competed in during the 2004 National Track and Field Championships held at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field facility.

The 39-year-old, who’s highlights in his career includes competing in the 2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, England and several regional competitions as well, dashed through the competition en route to winning all individual sprint events as well as the javelin. He reigned supreme in the 60m dash with a sterling time of 7.15 seconds, topped the 100m in 11.39 seconds, then strolled to victory in the 200m after clocking in at 24.28 seconds.

His throw of 44.05 meters also surprised many for first place in the javelin.

He also teamed up with others runners to take first place in both the 4X100 medley relay.

Like Ichiuo, Sablan earned the female athlete award after dominating the women’s field in the same track championships.

Sablan sprinted her way ahead of the pack in the 60m, finishing in a time of 8.48 seconds, and made it two-for-two by taking the 100m after crossing the finish line in 14.35 seconds. The youngster, who throughout her years competing in the elementary level caught the eyes of track officials, then scored another victory by completing the 200m in 31.20. She then capped her individual performance by rounding the oval in 1:12.16 to win the 400m.

She was also a member of the team that won the 4X100 medley relay.

What made her efforts even sweeter was the fact that the teen competed in the Open category.

Ashraf, for her part, got the nod as Female Student Athlete of the Month after impressing officials with her performance at the recent 2004 ITF Pacific Oceania Junior Tennis Championships in Lautoka, Fiji from Aug. 17-21.

The 11-year-old was the youngest of 48 players competing in the tournament, and managed to place fourth in the girl’s 14-and-under division.

Ashraf cut through her competition like a hot knife cutting butter, winning her first four matches. She finished the regular round with a second-best 4-1 record, earning a slot in the semifinals.

NMASA also lauded her for her play on the hard court just days before leaving for Fiji.

She celebrated her birthday on Aug. 12 by winning the Verizon Tennis Cup singles 4.0 category championship, then teamed up with her father, Dr. Mohammad Ashraf and Saipan Tennis Association president Roy Pangelinan to add two mixed doubles crowns to her corner.

The Ashrafs won the 4.0 division, while Kanani and Pangelinan took charge in the 5.0 division.

Earlier in the tournament, she combined with Audrey Motto to win the women’s 4.0 doubles.

San Nicolas also received recognition at an off-island event, winning the Junior League World Series home run derby while playing under the CNMI flag in Taylor, Michigan.

In the derby, each batter gets five chances to hit a baseball off a tee. The 15-year-old slugger displayed sheer courage, besting 80 power hitters from the 10 international and U.S. teams that competed.

Further, not only did he beat out the competition, but he also did it with a broken wrist, which he sustained after slipping and landed in such a way that it fractured his right wrist.

San Nicolas, however, went on to stun his teammates, all of the players in the tournament, and officials as well when he removed his arm wrap, grabbed his favorite bat, made his way to the plate, and bruised the baseball for four home runs to claim the crown.

The summer also featured San Nicolas scoring the game-winning run against Guam in the Asia-Pacific Regional Baseball Tournament, which enabled the Team CNMI to reach the World Series. Against Guam, he also pitched eight solid innings in which he fanned nine batters.

Notables include Ji Hoon Heo of tennis and Darryl Roligat of track and field.