SPORTS BRIEFS

IVYBL CHRISTMAS TOURNEY NEXT WEEK

The 2005 IVYBL Christmas Tournament will be held from Dec. 27 to Dec. 29 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Slots are limited to 10 teams, with officials stressing that the first 10 teams to pay the $100 entrance fee will be assured slots.

All interested teams must pay the fee and submit required documents prior to the start of the competition. Each team can have up to 18 players, however, only 15 can play in a game.

An awards banquet sponsored by Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela will be held shortly after the championship game.

The team that wins the title will also pocket $250. Second place will receive $200, third place $150, and fourth place $100. The team that wins the Sportsmanship Award will receive $75, while the most valuable player will take home $50.

For more information, contact Jonathan Tenorio or Joe Mettao at 664-2503.

CHRISTMAS ISLAND RELAY ON DEC. 31

The Northern Marianas Athletics will host the 24th Annual Christmas Island Relay on Dec. 31.

The event will begin at 5:30am at the Pacific Islands Club parking lot and will end at the Last Command Post in Marpi.

Registration for the 13.7-mile course begins at 5am at the start area.

Each team, which consists of five members, must switch runners every mile. It is also required that each team has at least one female participant or a participant who is under the age of 16 or in the senior division. Prior to competing, all teams must pay a fee of $25.

Each team must also have a transportation vehicle that will be used to transport runners to their posts.

Individuals determined to run the course as a soloist can do so at a fee of $10.

For more information, contact Elias Rangamar at 664-2502, NMA president Kurt Barnes at 235-5853, or treasurer Robin Sapong at 235-6500.

SAIPAN’S FIRST MARATHON NEXT MONTH

The Marianas Visitors Authority is working together with Northern Marianas Athletics to host the first-ever Saipan Marathon next month.

The plans are to include the marathon in conjunction with the running of the 25th Saipan Half Marathon (formerly the Kintetsu Half Marathon), and 10-km race on Saturday, Jan. 21.
The cost to tackle the longest race in the history of the CNMI is $35, and the fee for the half marathon will remain the same at $25, but in an effort to curb the rush of last-minute entries, organizers are adding a $10 fee to anyone not registered for either of the three races by Friday, Jan. 20, at 5pm.

For more information about the inaugural Saipan Marathon, the 25th running of the Saipan Half Marathon, or the 10-km course, contact Ed Diaz at MVA by calling 664-3210, or Barnes by calling 235-5853 or via email at kurtproa@yahoo.com.

NYBA TO HOST OPEN LEAGUE ON MARCH

The Northern Youth Basketball Association will host its inaugural league on March of next year.

The league is open to any interested team, and will feature competition in five age divisions—16-and-under, 14-and-under, 12-and-under, 10-and-under, and 8-and-under divisions.

All interested teams must pay a $150 entrance fee, with the first five teams getting free uniforms.

For more information or to register a team, contact Joe Diaz at 322-7061 or George Cruz at 287-1148.