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Rest of NMI athletes off to Fiji, Samoa
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Posted on Dec 10 2006
The CNMI delegates that will compete in the 2006 Oceania Under 18/Open Track and Field Championships are on their way, leaving Saipan Saturday night.
Northern Marianas Athletics officials, parents, and supporters gathered at the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport before the 9pm flight, wishing the athletes the best of luck and showcasing their support.
The delegation, comprising of six athletes and two coaches, will first head to Sigatoka, Fiji after recieving an invitation from the Oceania Athletics Association to compete in the second leg of the Oceania Grand Prix Series. The event will be held today.
Members of the delegation include sprinters Jacque Wonenberg and Yvonne Bennet, middle distance runners Nate Mateo and Champ Untalan, throwers Syl Rangamar and Melvin Tagabuel, and coaches Robin Sapong and Ronald Olopai.
Sapong had earlier disclosed that Tagabuel may be the only one out of the group to compete in Day 2 of the Grand Prix. He said the decision is not final yet, however, he does not favor the other athletes competing due to them not having ample time to rest after landing in Fiji.
Also part of the team are sprinter Tyrone Omar and long jumper and hurdler Dexter Dillay. The two left the island earlier last week to compete in the Grand Prix.
The Grand Prix concludes with the Oceania Championships, which will be held from Dec. 14 to Dec. 16 in Apia, Samoa.
The official schedule of events in Samoa is available at www.athletics-oceania.com.
The trip to Samoa also serves as a historic event for the CNMI, which was granted by the OAA the hosting of the 2008 Oceania Under 18/Open Track and Field Championships.
With that, Sapong and Olopai will be presented the Championships’ flag during the closing ceremony, officially signifying that the CNMI will host the next Championships in two years.
The CNMI won the bid to host the next Championships after OAA was impressed with the 2005 Micronesia Athletics Championships and 6th Micronesian Games 2006 on Saipan.
