{"id":410029,"date":"2024-06-21T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=410029"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"3-gold-2-bronze-nat-l-record-and-new-PBs-for-athletics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/3-gold-2-bronze-nat-l-record-and-new-PBs-for-athletics\/","title":{"rendered":"3 gold, 2 bronze, nat\u2019l record, and new PBs for athletics"},"content":{"rendered":"

MAJURO, Marshall Islands\u2014<\/strong>The first day of track and field events started off with a bang at the Majuro Track and Field Stadium yesterday with a medal haul of three gold and two bronze, as well as a national record and new personal bests for Team NMI in the 2024 Micronesian Games.<\/p>\n

The first gold medal was won by Lyle Andrew in the hammer throw, then Tania Tan in the 5,000m, and Maria Quitugua in the javelin throw. The bronze medals came by way of Lia Rangamar and Daniel Joab, both in the hammer throw.<\/p>\n

In the evening events, Tan reclaimed her gold medal throne in the 5,000m with a time of 19:25.54 and left the three other competitors in her dust. A distant second place was Guam\u2019s Keira Paz at 20:47.62, while bronze was Palau\u2019s Ava Planz at 23:11.99.<\/p>\n

Tan said after her win, \u201cIt was honestly really hard because the weather was super humid and hot like Solomons and Saipan. I also practically ran the whole race alone, so there was no one to pace me or help me reach a certain goal time, but, I said, \u2018just stick to your plan, run your own race, and see what happens and it worked out, so here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said her goal was to run under 19 minutes because she knew it was hot, but said at the time of her interview without her official results out, \u201cif that\u2019s the case, yay, if it\u2019s not yay either way. I brought home a gold so that\u2019s all that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

With her first ever Micronesian Games, she said, \u201cIt\u2019s always nice to represent the flag. Not everyone has the opportunity to compete in the Micro Games, Pacific Games, Pacific Mini Games, Oceania\u2014so just super grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

With her teammates\u2019 strong performance and medal haul so far, she said, \u201cthey\u2019ve all been working hard throughout the year, and I think for most of them the Micro Games was their main goal, because we do have a really good chance to do well. I think so far, we\u2019ve done better than all the past Micro Games with the medal count and we\u2019re not even done yet\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

To start the day off, Andrew tallied the first gold medal of the day and broke the national record in his hammer throw event with a best distance of 33.57m. Bronze also went to NMI\u2019s Daniel Joab at 24.53m, while silver was Nauru\u2019s Jonathan Detageouwa at 30.16m.<\/p>\n

Andrew, whose main event was the discus, said, \u201cit was okay. I got a little nervous because one guy was throwing pretty strong, but I was lucky enough to throw farther.\u201d<\/p>\n

On his gold medal win, he said, \u201cI wasn\u2019t expecting to throw that good and I didn\u2019t know I could throw that well because I never threw in the hammer event seriously before.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for Joab, whose main event is the shotput, he said the event was good. \u201cI was not really nervous but we had strong competitors. I\u2019m also the oldest, but I had confidence in myself too.\u201d<\/p>\n

With his win, he said he felt pretty good but hopes that the youth will take up the sport of track and field. He said, \u201cThe best feeling in sport is actually representing your island, right? The reason I was chosen was because I qualified but if there were younger ones who qualified, I would step out.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the javelin event, Maria Quitugua threw her way to the team\u2019s third gold last night with a best distance of 32.33m. Silver was Chuuk\u2019s Kayla Kanemoto at 31.78, and bronze went to Nauru\u2019s Juneen Peniteti with a throw of 30.14m.<\/p>\n

Quitugua said of her win, \u201cI\u2019m so proud of myself. I\u2019m so grateful to be given this opportunity to represent my island again. I\u2019m grateful to my parents for their sacrifice, my coach for giving me this opportunity and training me. I couldn\u2019t have done it without them.\u201d<\/p>\n

She then dedicated her win to her late brother and track star, Traven Quitugua.<\/p>\n

As for the second bronze medal, two-sport athlete Lia Rangamar secured bronze in her debut in the hammer throw with a distance of 21.83m. Gold went to host Marshall Islands\u2019 Mia Pulianas at 33.86mm while silver was Nauru\u2019s Jaya-Shalimar Teboua at 22.40m.<\/p>\n

Rangamar, whose main event was the javelin throw, was also placed in the hammer throw with other athletes who are also new to the event in order to have more competitors. With a 10-minute crash course for the hammer throw before the event, she said, \u201cit was very fun. Everyone was very supportive. I think everyone of us was new to that event and it was nice to have it alongside my sister [Kina Rangamar] and my teammates\u201d.<\/p>\n

On her bronze medal-placing, she said, \u201cI was actually very surprised but I was happy too. That\u2019s just another medal to our overall count.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rangamar also plays basketball for the national team and said as a two-sport athlete, \u201cI think after all these years that I\u2019ve been competing in these Games, I think that certainly helps in how I prepare everyday. It helps that I have experience and the support of teammates and coaches\u2026 So yeah, I just try to take it day by day, see how my body feels, and try to produce.\u201d<\/p>\n

Casey Cruz made her way to the finals of the 100m sprints with her personal best of 12.60 seconds. She said of her PB, \u201cmy 100m race was fantastic! I surprised myself, especially after recovering from an ankle injury. I feel incredibly blessed and ready for the next race!\u201d<\/p>\n

For seasoned sprinter Zarinae Sapong, she broke her personal best in the 100m with a time of 12.87 seconds in the finals, after resetting it the first time in the prelims at 12.95 seconds.<\/p>\n

Athletics team coach Elias Rangamar said of the medal haul on Day 1, \u201cThey really passed my expectations\u2014first day and three gold? I\u2019m proud of all of them\u201d.<\/p>\n

Today, NMI track and field athletes will take on Day 2, with more medals and records on their mind.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Tania Tan, center, with her gold medal during the awards ceremony of the 5,000m in the 2024 Micronesian Games at the Majuro Track and Field Stadium yesterday.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Maria Quitugua, center, with her gold medal during the awards ceremony of the javelin throw in the 2024 Micronesian Games at the Majuro Track and Field Stadium yesterday.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
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