KONQER participants survive

Saturday’s weather made it more challenging for participants of the inaugural KONQER Saipan King of the Hill to brave the elements and overcome the punishing obstacle course layout.

In the end, two United States Marine Corps members and a Saipan resident swept past their competitors and obliterated the course as they claimed the Top 3 in the Enduro division of the race held at the Gov. Eloy S. Inos Peace Park in Puerto Rico.

Completion, Sprints, and Business used by companies or employers for team building exercises for their employees—were the other categories in the event where close to 500 were able to finish the taxing race.

USMC Maj. Timothy Patrick was the fastest in taming the 2.16-kilometer course—that also had a 32-meter incline—with an unofficial time of 37:08, followed by Gunnery Sgt. Justin Park’s 38:36. Saipan resident Joel Phair came in third at 38:53.

Patrick praised the organizers with the course layout and last Saturday’s rainy weather became an additional challenge to all. “The course on Saipan was fantastic. I can’t think of a better way to see some of this beautiful island.”

“The two swim portions were impacted by the windy weather producing a counter current and making the course a little more challenging. Of course, the obstacles were a work of art designed by a mad genius. They are inherently challenging, add water and mud and they become more difficult,” Patrick added.

This was Patrick’s second win after also topping the two-day race in Palau—Peleliu and Koror. He is now looking forward to the Guam leg of the three-circuit race, which is set for Oct. 15 at the Gov. Flores Memorial Park in Tumon Bay. Patrick won the Palau Solo Sprint division with a time of 3:38:47, while Park was ninth at 5:18:27. The Leatherbacks, a USMC team, finished second in the Relay Sprint (3:14:12), also in Palau.

Meanwhile, the Marianas Outrigger Club, which used the race in preparing for their three title defense in next month’s Micronesian Cup in Guam, ruled the Business League with a time of 50:10, while Gold’s Gym came in at second (1:01:22) and Tao Tao Bud 670 placed third (1:02:56).

The race began at Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan and participants had to overcome the run-swim-run-swim legs before heading toward Puerto Rico for the main obstacle’s layout at the Gov. Inos Peace Park, which has a height of 80 feet.

From the final swim portion, a few hundred meters from the sea wall, competitors made their way to the main obstacle course entrance and ran all the way to the top. Tires were also scattered on the racecourse as they made their way atop the Peace Park.