Tagaman receives boost from returning president

While little more than a month remains until a gaggle of triathletes take to the waters off the beach behind the Pacific Islands Club for the pre-dawn start the 16th Tagaman Triathlon, organizers continued their efforts to put on the finest race in the event’s history with a little help from the president of Taga Inc. Bill Sakovich.

The conference room of the Marianas Visitors Authority was host to representatives from local businesses, government agencies, media outlets, and athletic organizations that each had comments and suggestions regarding the final details of the event.

Unlike previous years, the Tagaman will be receiving direct competition from another triathlon in the region that falls on the same day. As organizers of both events scramble for unregistered multi-sport enthusiasts, Sakovich and company believe that the package put together as a part of the Saipan Sports Fest outweighs the newcomer’s race.

Currently there are triathletes from Korea, Japan, Palau, Australia, Guam and the CNMI signed up for April’s race, and organizers are busy ironing out the details of bringing professional triathlete Claire Murray and her 20-plus member Hong Kong delegation as well.

Organizers also decided to make a concerted effort to intensify the marketing campaigns on Guam during the final push for racers in an effort to attract the CNMI’s closet neighbors to Saipan. Members of the MVA will be attending a hotel and restaurant exposition in Guam with plans of reaching out to the local triathlon federation as well as the military members.

While the flight to Guam will certainly bring in additional competitors, much more have been surfing via the information superhighway. According to the MVA’s Frank Tudela the website (www.tagaman.com) is enticing participants daily, as new entrants from throughout the Pacific Rim have been registering for the event in small groups at a time.

One of the small groups is an inspirational two-man team from Japan, as 18-year-old triathlete Syoki Sakano and his father Kensyo will be returning to the CNMI for the test of endurance.

The younger Sakano suffers from a developmental disability from birth, but is an accomplished triathlete who has recently been honored for completing the Tinian Turquoise Blue Triathlon in February and the Rota Blue Triathlon last November.

“He is really something. He has come a long way since the first time with the TagaKids race. It’s really great that he is coming back,” said JM Guerrero of Taga Inc.