All Schools track moved back to May 6

The 2006 Mc-Donald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships has been moved back to its originally scheduled date.

This according to Northern Marianas Athletics coaches’ director Elias Rangamar, who said that the move was due the annual March For Cancer, which will be held from May 12 to May 13. He said many athletes will be taking part in the overnight event.

With that, NMA will begin with its qualifiers next week, with elementary schools having their trials from Mondays to Wednesdays.

Elementary school activities for next week include the 100m and 200m sprints, long jump, 1,500m, and 4X100m relay.

Schools scheduled for Monday, April 3, are Dandan, Garapan, Kagman, Tanapag elementary schools, Whispering Palms School, and Calvary Baptist Academy.

Koblerville, Oleai, San Antonio, and William S. Reyes elementary schools, Saipan Community School, and Grace Christian Academy are scheduled for April 4, while San Vicente and Gregorio T. Camacho elementary schools, Seventh Day Adventist, Mt. Carmel School, and Joshua Generation International are scheduled for April 5.

Other events will be held in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the junior high and high schools will make their debuts on April 6 and will compete in the 100m, 200m, 1,500m, discus, shot put, long jump, and 4X100m relay. Schools scheduled for the day include Hopwood and Cha Cha Ocean View junior high schools, Grace Christian Academy, Mt. Carmel School, Calvary Christian Academy, Saipan International School, Saipan Community School, Marianas, Saipan Southern, and Kagman high schools, and Northern Marianas Academy.

Individuals will compete for slots in the Championships on May 6. An individual is limited to just four events for the Championships, with exception to the 11-and-under and 9-and-under participants who are competing in the 800m and 1,500m events, who will be competing in only three events.

Six slots will be available for Saipan athletes, as the two remaining spots will be occupied by Tinian and Rota. In the case that Rota or Tinan does not have a competitor in an event, the next best finisher from the Saipan qualifiers will automatically take the slot.

Each event will also count in the team scoring, with each first place finish earning 10 points, second place earning eight points, third place six points, fourth place four points, fifth place two points, and sixth place one point.

Team trophies will be awarded to the top three schools in each age category for boys and girls. Medals will also be presented to the top three performers in each event.

For more information, contact Rangamar at 664-2502 or email to eli_rang@yahoo.com or email NMA secretary general Robin Sapong at sapong@pti.net.