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Whelan, Oshima top Silver Streak
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Posted on Jun 23 2008
Two-time 2006 Oceania Championships gold medalist Brendan Whelan of Australia and veteran runner Mamiko Oshima topped the 15th Annual Tom Picarro Memorial Fun Run held last Saturday along Beach Road.
Although official results are not available, Whelan reportedly broke the Silver Streak’s old standing record by more than three minutes. Finishing second to the Aussie was noted Saipan multi-sport athlete Eli Torgeson.
In other categories, Andrew Kimball and Victoria Chentosova won the 5-10 age group, Hearthim Williams and Grace Kimball took the 11-20 division, while local boxer Aguinaldo Tesado Jr. won first place in the 21-30 category.
Other winners were Torgeson and Kimiko Hasegawa in the 31-40, Ernesto Apostol and Akane Imaya in the 41-50, Steven Pixley and Monica Yamaguchi in the 51-60, Bobbi Grizzard in the 61-70, and Jack Hardy in the 71-and-over age group.
The Silver Streak memorializes the late president of DFS Galleria Saipan, Tom Picarro, who served the company 1979 to 1992. He used to run along Beach Road waving to passers by. He had a great head of white hair and that is where organizers got the name Silver Streak.
DFS Galleria Saipan associate store manager and race coordinator Wolf Mojica said trophies and in-kind prizes were awarded for the top male and female finishers as well as first, second, and third place in 13 age groups.
The fun run started at the DFS Galleria Saipan’s main entrance along Beach Road. Participants then headed south on Beach Road to the Japanese Tank at the intersection of Quartermaster Road then turned around and finished at DFS Galleria Saipan.
Proceeds from the Silver Streak went to a local charity and DFS Galleria Saipan also gave away T-shirts and tank tops to the first 175 finishers of the race. Drinks, water, and fruits also were provided to participants.
