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Saipan paddlers make waves in 10th Micronesian Cup
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Posted on Oct 26 2008
A seven-man team from Saipan Outrigger Canoe Club participated in the 10th Micronesian Cup at the Matapang Beach Park in Tumon, Guam recently and recorded three runner-up finishes.
The team was composed of Brian Eckert, Eric O’Malley, Dave Palacios, Sonny Downer, Jim Sirok, Gil Birnbrich, and Richard Sikkel.
SOCC competed in two division races on the first day of the tournament. The Saipan paddlers topped the preliminary race in the 1,000m, timing in at five minutes, 44.56 seconds. They finished ahead of two Hong Kong teams.
But in the finals, SOCC completed the 1,000m sprint more than four seconds behind Hong Kong IPC1 with the former clocking in at 5:28.65 compared to the latter’s 5:24.82.
Completing the Top 5 were Haggan (5:35.65), Palau’s Ngradmau (5:37.29), and Napun Haya (5:55.85).
Saipan paddlers tried again to finish ahead of the pack, but their bid for the top spot in the 500m sprint finals was foiled by Haggan, which recorded 2:28.20. SOCC timed in at 2:31.18.
Hong Kong IPC1 finished third (2:37.29), AT Metgot (2:38.17), and Ngradmau (2:40.59).
On the second day of the tournament, SOCC had another runner finish placing second to Hong Kong IPC in the long distance race (12 miles). The Saipan paddlers posted 1:37.33 against Hong Kong’s 1:35.23.
Around 30 teams from Palau, Hong Kong, Japan, Saipan, and host Guam competed in the two-day tournament, which featured 38 races and had paddlers cruising from Matapang Beach Park to Hagatna Boat Basin and then to Two Lovers Point.
The annual tournament had competitions in women’s, men’s and mixed divisions.
Guam’s AT Metgot swept the women’s division races, timing in at 1:35.16 in the long distance finals, 6:01.54 in the 1,000m sprint, and 2:54.67 in the 500m sprint. AT Metgot’s mixed team also won in the 1,000m sprint, clocking in at 5:53.39 and beating Hong Kong IPC (6:02.34).
Hong Kong IPC1 ruled the mixed 500m sprint timing in at 2:46.05. Placing second was AT Metgot (:47.46), followed by Haggan Flyers (2:53.73), At Fote (2:55.55), and Hong Kong IPC2 (2:59.32).
