All-Comers, All-Schools track and field to get underway soon

The Northern Mariana Islands Track and Field Federation announced yesterday that it would host two meets in the near future at the Oleai Sports Complex track-and-field facility, located just north of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

According to NMITFF, an All-Comers Meet will be held on March 19 beginning at 1:30pm, and will serve as a qualifier for this summer’s South Pacific Mini Games in Palau.

The meet is open to anyone interested, making it a stiff challenge for those intending to represent the Commonwealth in athletics at the Mini Games. Only two athletes and a coach will make up the athletics delegation to Palau.

Events to be featured for both men and women during the meet are 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m, long jump, shotput, discus, and javelin. Individuals may also team up to compete in the medley relay.

Because the event serves as the Mini Games qualifier, no age groups will be featured.

Meanwhile, the NMITFF is also prepping up for its annual All-Schools Track and Field Championships, scheduled to take place on May 7.

The Championships will feature four age group categories such as 9-and-under, 11-and-under, 13-and-under, and 18-and-under for both boys and girls.

Not all the athletes, however, will compete during the finals of the Championships. With that, NMITFF will hold time trials from April 1 to April 30 to determine which athletes from which school will advance to the finals of a respective event. During the trials, athletes will compete against other athlete from other schools for the right to qualify and advance.

Events include 60m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m, discus, long jump, 4X100m relay and 4X400m relay for the elementary level.

Junior high and high school levels will compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800M, 1,500m, long jump, high jump, shotput, discus, javelin, 4X100m relay, and 4X400m relay.

In hopes of assisting coaches and teachers who train athletes from their respective schools, the NMITFF will conduct an Introductory Course on March 12 from 8:30am to 12pm at the Ada Gym conference room.

“In order for us to run an efficient and well organized track meet, your confirmation of participation for both the Introductory Course and time trials is of utmost importance,” the federation said. “We kindly seek your school’s confirmation by Wednesday, March 9,” said the NMITFF.

For more information, contact Elias Rangamar at 664-2502 or email at eli_rang@yahoo.com, Kurt Barnes at 234-5498 ext. 1008 or email at kurtb@nmcnet.edu, or Robin Sapong at sapong@vzpacifica.net.