Smith takes Tough Love, gives encouragement

Stuart Smith has a knack for finishing first and he earned another notch in his spandex belt on Saturday when he out-pedaled 24 off-road racers to Mount Tapochau during the Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation’s Tough Love Mountain Bike Race.

Saipan’s lanky champion dusted the competition from the American Memorial Park Pavilion to the top of the island via Navy Hill Road in a ridiculously fast time of 32:03 to go down as the winner of the inaugural event.

Smith wasn’t the only one cranking up the hill at an impressive rate as second place Nate Hawley reached the peak at the 35:54, followed by Butch Sublemente in third at 36:17. Lewie “The Voice” Tenorio finished seconds later in fourth place atop his new two-wheeled machine at 36:25, while Kieran Daly returned to the racing circuit with an admirable fifth place finish at 37:05.

Daly couldn’t let up as he approached the summit as Chris Fryling (37:17), Mario Galang (37:25), and the ageless Florian Braig (37:41) were all within site of the Pacific Islands Club chief.

Seasoned biker Rene Calage (39:01) and multi-sport veteran Tyce Mister (40:11) rounded out the Top 10 followed by the remainder of riders who all finished within a dozen minutes of the early birds.

Kimiko Hasegawa was the lone female in the race, and woman who won her age group in the Tagaman Triathlon didn’t quit in her first off-road race atop a borrowed bike until she reached the top at 47:02.

There were only a couple of youth riders on the course, and Saipan Swim Club star Cooper “The Warrior” Graf traded his sea legs for fatty tires and a helmet for the race, but was unable to finish when he flatted near the top of Navy Hill. Despite the mishap, the swimmer pushed his bike to the junction with Mt. Tapochau Road and was proud of how far he was able to get.

Graf wasn’t the only youngster who challenged the coral road as Frederico Fernandez completed the grueling course in 51:20 to the supporting cheers of his fellow races. Smith took a break from the post-race celebration to encourage Fernandez by running alongside of him the last few meters to the finish line.

Russ Quinn spent weeks planning the event and also participated in the race with a 13th place finish at 42:35, and he joined NMITF president Dirk Sharer with a post-race sunrise toast to longtime Saipan resident Jeannie Sakovich.

Once everyone finished activities continued as the NMITF provided riders with a number of prizes through a random draw to include an assortment of cycling tools and accessories and several waterpark passes from the PIC.