CNMI team to Oceania Championships named

The CNMI will be well represented in the upcoming 2006 Oceania Under 18/Open Track and Field Championships next month.

Northern Marianas Athletics announced earlier this week the names of the eight athletes and two coaches that will make up the CNMI delegation to the event, which will be held in Apia, Samoa from Dec. 14 to Dec. 16.

According to NMA coaches director Elias Rangamar and secretary general Robin Sapong, the team comprises of standout runners Jacque Wonenberg, Yvette Bennett, Mel Tagabuel, Tyrone Omar, Dexter Dillay, Nate Mateo, Champ Untalan, and Syl Rangamar.

Wonenberg, Bennett and Omar will compete in sprint events, Untalan and Mateo will represent in distance running events, Dillay in the hurdles, and Syl Rangamar and Tagabuel in throwing events.

Wonenberg, Tagabuel, Omar, and Dillay are coming off impressive performance in the recent 6th Micronesian Games, with all earning medals for the CNMI.

The competitors were selected based on performance and commitment to training.

The team will be coached by Rangamar and Ronald Olopai.

The competition will feature top guns from around the region including Guam, Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Kiribati, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia, among others.

The Championships will also serve as a historic event for the CNMI as the Oceania flag will be presented to Rangamar and Olopai. This after the CNMI’s bid to host the 2008 Championships was endorsed by the Oceania Athletics Association. The flag turnover from Samoa officials to CNMI officials will take place during the closing ceremony on Dec. 16.

The Championships will serve as the finale of the 2006 Oceania Grand Prix Series, which Dillay and Omar will take part in.

Dillay and Omar were nominated by the federation, which recently received word from Oceania Athletics Association executive director Yvonne Mullins that both will be able to compete.

The Grand Prix will kick off on Dec. 9 and another competition will be held on Dec. 11 at the Fiji Post Stadium in Lacaula Bay, Suva.

Meanwhile, NMA is reminding all interested that the annual Turkey Trot Fun Run will be held on Thanksgiving morning, and will serve as a fundraiser for the team heading to Samoa.

The run, which will cost $7 for adults and $5 for youth, will begin at Lower Base and conclude atop Mt. Tapochao.

The 4.2-mile challenge will feature 12-and-under, 13-17, open, 30-39, 40-49, and 50-and-over divisions for males and females.

Registration begins at 5:15am and the race gets underway at 6am.

“We’re anticipating another successful and fun event for all, and we’re calling on all runners to come over, take part in the race, and help support our CNMI team,” NMA said.