Torgeson, Shimizu top ‘Run For Ron’

Perennial contenders Eli Torgeson and Maimi Shimizu topped yesterday’s “Run For Ron” 5-kilometer fundraising race held at Micro Beach inside the American Memorial Park.

The 5K fun run and walk, which is a fundraising event by Ronald Villafria for his scheduled trip to Japan in July, followed the same course of last month’s Club Elan 5K Run.

Villafria will compete together with lawyer Steve Pixley in the 2008 Mt. Fuji Marathon or Fuji Tozan race on July 25.

Times were not recorded since the event was a fun run, with most of the veteran racers not pushing themselves to the limit and were seen in a casual and leisurely jog.

Torgeson was also seen running along a pack that included Pixley, Shimizu, Mieko Carey, 16-year-old Matt Mancao, Lewie Tenorio, Fred Camacho, Cesar Danao, and Tamio Nishido.

Torgeson slowly pulled away entering Smiling Cove Marina followed colosely by Mancao and with Nishido as they go towards the U.S. Army Reserve base.

After almost 20 minutes Torgeson came back at the Micro Beach Pavilion beside Hyatt Regency-Saipan with Mancao and Nishido finishing in that order.

Shimizu topped the female open division with Carey at close second while Suzy Kindel, who was seen in the company of Dawn Hammermeister, finishing third.

The complete results with the age group winners were not yet available at press time.

Torgeson and Shimizu received trophies and a Hard Rock Café denim jacket.

One hundred and twenty signed up for the event with only 70 running yesterday as the other participants opted to donate the amount to help Villafria’s fundraising drive.

Villafria also raffled off prizes donated by Hard Rock Café, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Pacific Islands Club, Saipan Grand Hotel, Coco Restaurant, PTI, and SaipanCell Communications. Topnotch donated the trophies.

Other sponsors that helped Villafira are Marianas Trekking, Cappricciosa and Tony Roma’s, Johnny’s Bar, Godfather’s, Jazy Sports Wear Guam, Saipan Tribune, Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation, Auto Glass Pro, Filipino Bikers Association, LBT Appraisal, Pixley, Eli Arago, Ariel Mariano, Susan Espanillo, Fiesta Resort & Spa, Tan Holdings Legal Department, Shirley’s Coffee Shop, CTSI, DFS Galleria, , Coca-Cola Micronesia, and Marianas Brokers Inc.

Villafria thanked all runners who participated and all sponsors who helped him organize the race.

The Mt. Fuji Marathon or Fuji Tozan Race is composed of two legs, a 15-kilometer race to the fifth station of the mountain and a 21-km race all the way to the top. The final six kilometers of the race is also a trail run.