Already over 1,000 entries for McDonald’s All Schools

With just five days before athletes from around the CNMI duke it out for supremacy on the track, the 2006 McDonald’s All Schools Track and Field Championships has already attracted over 1,000 entries for this Saturday’s event.

The Oleai Sports Complex track and field facility will be filled with action beginning Saturday morning as 1,241 entries have already been confirmed.

This according to Northern Marianas Athletics secretary general Robin Sapong, who said the number is expected to increase as one more qualifier for the Championships will be held this afternoon.

Prior to today’s competition, a total of 479 athletes have already taken part in the qualifiers leading up to the Championships.

“The number is going to go up because we still have one more [qualifier] to go,” Sapong said as he explained that high school students have one last shot at qualifying for the Championships.

The qualifiers presented the students with opportunities to compete for one of six slots available in each track and field event. After today’s qualifier, NMA officials will finalize the list of qualifiers for all events.

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 Tinian does not have a competitor in an event, the next best finisher from the Saipan qualifiers will 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. NMA will also have the tough task of selecting the top male and top female performers of the meet.

For more information about the Nationals or McDonald’s events, contact NMA coaches director Elias Rangamar at 664-2502 or email to eli_rang@yahoo.com or email Sapong at sapong@pticom.com.