Roligat is fastest in All Comers sprints

Marianas High School student Darrel Roligat ran like the wind Saturday at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field facility, and proved to be the fastest athlete in the All Comers Meet.

The 16-year-old who trains daily at the facility was out on a mission in the men’s 100m sprint and accomplished it by beating everyone with a time of 11.25 seconds.

He was followed by fellow speedster Ben Jones’ 11.65, while Tyrone Omar and Luis Iguel Jr. finished in 11.74 and 12.10 for third and fourth place, respectively.

The battle in the girls 100m came down to two well-known 10-year-olds as Reylynn Sapong edged Lia Rangamar with a time of 15.64 seconds. Rangamar crossed the finish line in 16.32 seconds. Sapong also won the 200m in 36.78, while Rangamar put up a time of 37.95.

Mark Lero was the top gun in the men’s 400m as the 16-year-old completed the one-lap race in under a minute in 59.71. Second place with a time of 1:00.05 was Leeroy Rangamar.

Lero also posted the fastest time in the 800m, racing through the two-lap event in 2:28.69. Reggie Ayuyu and Anthony Randall placed second and third in 2:33.00 and 2:40.41.

Lero also had control of the 1,500m event, topping the race in 5:13.23m while Ayuyu and Donnie Dosalua finished with respective times of 5:17.58 and 5:45.27 for second and third place.

Reigning Student Athlete of the Year Bo Wang took top honors in the girls 400m, completing the course in 1:12.07, while Sapong and Rangamar followed suit in times of 1:24.06 and 1:26.37.

Wang was the lone runner in the 800m, rounding the track twice in a time of 2:44.19. Chang Wang topped the girls 1,500m with a time of 6:10.

Organizer Northern Mariana Islands Track and Field Federation expressed its appreciation to all who competed in the meet, as well as to those who volunteered their time and effort in making the meet a success.

Special recognition was also extended to the youth athletes of Tinian as well as their coaches, who displayed their determination in developing their skills as they competed in the meet.

The event served as a qualifier for the upcoming South Pacific Mini Games in Palau summer. Only two athletes will be selected to represent the Commonwealth in athletics.

The final Mini Games qualifier will be held next month after which NMITFF will determine the athletes that will represent the CNMI in athletics in the quadrennial event. (To be continued)