Ketson, Mieko top SIS Fun Run

A former record-holder and a first-timer won yesterday’s 8th Annual Saipan International School 5K Fun Run held in Marpi.

Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel was the first to cross the finish line overall and topped the men’s division after clocking in at 19.16.

Coming in second and third to Kabiriel in the men’s category were Northern Marianas Athletics up-and-coming runners Champ Untalan (19:57) and Matthew Mancao (20:34).

Before Eli Torgeson set the course record last year with a blistering run of 16:40, Kabiriel was the SIS Fun Run’s record holder with a time of 18:28.

While he didn’t break it this year, the man who calls himself Roadrunner Bunny vowed to take back the record next year after a more thorough training regimen.

“I’m going to break Eli’s record once I get more training under my belt. I only trained for three months this year. But next year I will break Eli’s record of 16:40 because I will be training much harder.”

Mieko Carey, meanwhile, took part in her first ever SIS Fun Run after skipping the event the past few years because it coincided with her stints in the XTERRA World Championship in Maui.

She debuted in spectacular fashion, shattering Mamiko Berger’s record of 21:51 for the women’s division after crossing the finish line at Banzai Cliff in 21:23.

Checking in after Carey in the women’s division, meanwhile, were Rebecca Read (21:55) and Monica Yamaguchi (24:09).

Carey said she was happy with her time of 21:23 even though at the time she didn’t know yet that it was a new record.

She said that the SIS Fun Run was an easy run for her. “It was a very good flat course, ideal for kids.”

SIS Fun Run coordinator Betty Johnson said a total of 138 individuals took part in the event that started from Banzai Cliff and had participants run toward Cowtown Raceway Park and back to the finish line at Banzai Cliff.

She also thanked the following sponsors for their in-kind donations for the SIS Fun Run: AIC Marianas, Big Dipper, Deloitte, Delta Management, DFS Galleria, Hawaiian Rock Products, Himawari, Marianas Medical Center, Micronesian Marine, Pacific Islands Club (PIC), PTI, Saipan Ice, Shell,  The Financial Group, The Water Company, Tropical Blend Spa,  and Claybodies Art Studio.

Result of the children’s race of the SIS Fun Run will be published in the following days.