NMA recognizes athletes of the year

After another successful year in promoting track and field, Northern Maria-nas Athletics took time last Thursday to recognize its top athletes of 2005.

NMA officials had the tough task of determining the top performers of each award—male, female, male youth, female youth, and roadrunner.

Jeremy Winkfield won the male athlete of the year plum courtesy of his record-breaking performances in the McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships.

The multi-sport athlete was matched by no one in the Commonwealth-wide competition, first striking gold in the high jump, while at the same time stamping his name in the record books following his third attempt that measured at 1.95 meters, setting a new CNMI National Record.

Winkfield then took charge in the discus, and this time, broke the CNMI Junior Record when his first attempt recorded a distance of 30.59 meters for his second gold medal of the day.

He then shattered another CNMI Junior Record and won his third gold courtesy of the throw of 12.16 meters in the shot put, then capped his historic day by breaking another CNMI National record on his first attempt of the javelin after the spear landed some 52.51 meters away.

With his performance, he was a shoo-in for the event’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete Award.

For her part, Doris Rangamar was winner of the female athlete of the year plum courtesy of her comeback run after taking time out form the sport.

Rangamar made a strong return to athletics just in time for the MAC, where she grabbed three medals.

Rangamar, the Micronesian Games discus record holder, took bronze in the discus with a distance of 29.16 meters, then had her shiniest moment of the MAC by striking gold in the javelin when her spear landed 25.71 meters across the field. She found herself back on the medal stand after she won bronze in the shot put with a throw of 8.96 meters.

Darrel Roligat was named male youth athlete of the year courtesy of his performances at the All Schools competition, the National Championships, the MAC, All Comers Meet, and stints at the World Youth Championships in Morocco, the World Championships in Helsinki, and South Pacific Mini Games in Palau.

Roligat won all his races in the All Schools and National championships, set a new 100m junior record in the World Youth Championships with a time of 11.41 seconds, and anchored the CNMI Medley Relay team to a bronze medal finish in the MAC. He clocked in at 11.49 seconds while competing in the World Championships, which was good enough for sixth place in his heat.

Teenage sensation Jacque Wonenberg was also crowned female youth athlete of the year after dominating every event she competed in locally.

The 13-year-old Wonenberg then capped the year in style as she hauled in five medals in the MAC, winning two silver and three bronze.

Wonenberg struck silver in the high jump after clearing a height of 1.20 meters, then followed with a bronze medal finish in the 800m after crossing the finish line in 2:35.66. She then also teamed with Tyrone Omar, Reylynn Sapong, and Roligat for bronze in the Medley Relay. She hauled in her second silver of the MAC by completing the women’s 400m event in just 1:05.28, setting new national and junior records. She then anchored the women’s 4X100m Relay team to a bronze medal finish.

Wonenberg was also the most outstanding female of the All Schools competition.

Meanwhile, Noriko Jim was crowned road runner of the year after winning several road runs hosted by the NMA, including the Turkey Trot Fun Run held Thanksgiving morning. Jim also won gold in the 3,000 meters and silver in the 1,500 meters runs in the MAC.