{"id":259027,"date":"2017-08-29T06:06:36","date_gmt":"2017-08-28T20:06:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=259027"},"modified":"2017-08-29T06:06:36","modified_gmt":"2017-08-28T20:06:36","slug":"zari-treasures-london-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/zari-treasures-london-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Zari treasures London experience"},"content":{"rendered":"
The CNMI\u2019s Zarinae Sapong is seen in the monitor before the start of Heat 6 of the 100m dash in the International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships in London early this month. (Contributed Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Zarinae Sapong will forever treasure the chance to compete in the 16th International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships in London, United Kingdom earlier this month.<\/p>\n

After all, she had the opportunity to see a lot of superstars in athletics especially United States sprinter Allyson Felix, whom she is a big fan of. An added bonus is when she posted a new personal best time in the 100m run.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first time participating in the World Championships. I\u2019ve competed in the World Indoor Championships, the World Junior Championships, and the World Youth Championships in the past,\u201d said Sapong in an interview by Saipan Tribune.<\/p>\n

\u201cRunning in the world stage is a huge honor. I get to meet new athletes and coaches, and it gives me the chance to observe the different routines and drills that each athlete goes through before their event.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fan girl in her came out when she saw her idol, Felix, the three-time 200m run world champion and six-time Olympic gold medalist. \u201cYes, seeing the top athletes perform is always an awesome experience like when I witnessed Usain Bolt\u2019s last few races.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of the people I met were the top athletes of their country and they were very kind. I\u2019m also a fan of many runners but Allyson Felix is one of my favorites. I think I was most overwhelmed when I saw her enter the warm up track with Team USA,\u201d Sapong said.<\/p>\n

However, getting a new PBT served as the highlight of her London trip. Sapong ran in Heat 6 at the London Olympic Stadium and clocked 13.29 seconds, shaving off 0.06 milliseconds off her previous time of 13.35 in winning gold in the 2016 Micronesian Athletics Championships in Pohnpei.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel that I performed well in London. I\u2019m happy that I set a new [PBT]. I know there are new things that I have added in my routine and with more training, I hope to work through the kinks and produce better times,\u201d said the 5\u20192\u201d Sapong.<\/p>\n

She followed to the letter what she and Northern Marianas Athletics development officer Elias Rangamar had done in their preparation for the IAAF World Championships. \u201cBefore the race I was thinking about the phases I go through in the run from the beginning to the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor example, my take off has changed since I competed in [the Oceania Area Championships] in Fiji so I was just repeating what I needed to do on the starting blocks. In the middle of the run, I got my breathing right, stayed relaxed, and pumped my arms. I needed to focus so I could maintain my speed at that point of the race.\u201d<\/p>\n

Breathing heavily, moments after she crossed the finish line, Sapong anxiously looked at the giant monitor at the stadium to check on her time. \u201cI was really eager to see my time after I crossed the finish line. I was ecstatic when I saw that I broke my own [PBT].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter my previous performance in Fiji, I was not expecting a new [PBT]. I was just hoping to match my [PBT]. It was really an amazing feeling to have beaten it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite running against some of the world\u2019s top athletes, Sapong just focused and tried not to be intimidated by their presence. \u201cI get nervous when it comes to my performance. But I\u2019m more focused in ensuring I run the race as best as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot so much to think that I have the world\u2019s superstars next to me. When it comes to being with the world\u2019s stars, I\u2019m more than excited than nervous,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

She plans to resume her training as soon as she has settled her class schedules at the Northern Marianas College to prepare for the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu in December, other future Oceania tournaments, and the regional Micronesian Games in Yap state but most especially next year\u2019s MAC that will be hosted by Saipan.<\/p>\n

Being the reigning 100m and 200m champion in the MAC, with the latter she holds the games record of 27.87 seconds, makes her a marked person. Would she give in to pressure?<\/p>\n

\u201cLess pressure, but more motivation. I try not to overwhelm myself on what others expect of me but more so on what I am doing to get my goals. I hope to continue to perform better but I can only get they by continuing to train hard,\u201d Sapong ended.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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