{"id":411134,"date":"2024-07-05T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-05T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=411134"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Jody-Tania-bursts-into-first-place","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Jody-Tania-bursts-into-first-place\/","title":{"rendered":"Jody, Tania bursts into first place"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chef Jody O\u2019Sullivan and multi-awarded track star Tania Tan burst onto the scene of the new 4th Annual 4th of July Independence Day 2-Mile Race even before the start of Liberation Day festivities early yesterday morning.<\/p>\n

The new course was from the Smiling Cove Marina parking lot to a little past the newly paved Industrial Road along the Gov. Eloy S. Inos Peace Park in Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Sullivan got up and decided to set a new course record of 11:11 flat, even before the start of his work day. Second place was Heimanarii Lai San at 11:40, while 10th Micronesian Games silver medalist Simon Tang was just a few seconds behind at 11:47.<\/p>\n

In the women\u2019s division, birthday girl Tan rushed into first place at 12:38. Second place was Krista Hawley at 16:00, and third was Leilani Ruszala with a time of 17:15.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Sullivan, who now works at Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan after the permanent closure of Hyatt Regency Saipan, said that the race made him really tired. \u201cJordan [Ruiz] flew off and I was like well I better stay within touching distance of him. That was way too fast because I almost died in the corner there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Even with that, he was happy with the result. \u201cIt was a nice way to start the day,\u201d he said. O\u2019Sullivan was also first in the Run from 2023 Mile Race last New Year\u2019s Eve, so he said he knew it was going to be downhill. However, \u201cComing back, it felt more downhill in December than it did this time. There\u2019s less wind this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Tan, who celebrated her birthday last July 1, she said it\u2019s her first time on island during the July 4th weekend since she was a child.<\/p>\n

The now 23-year-old actually spent her birthday traveling and now that she\u2019s back home, she said she decided to join the July 4th race for the first time as a kind of celebration. \u201cI guess this could be the actual party and celebration for my birthday with a medal, so happy birthday to me!\u201d said Tan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was fun and that\u2019s all that matters,\u201d she added of the race. After her record-breaking stint in the 10th Micronesian Games last month, she said she actually hasn\u2019t run since then.<\/p>\n

The turnout of 38 runners was a really great turnout, according to Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz Jr.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing because anytime you have a holiday race, it\u2019s really hard for people to wake up on a midweek day off and run a race at six in the morning, so I\u2019m very happy with the results,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

This is the third time they\u2019ve switched their course, as last year, they ran up north and back from the Garapan Fishing Base, while the original course in the first two races ran south and back from the Garapan Fishing Base.<\/p>\n

With that, Dela Cruz said it\u2019s for the runners\u2019 safety due to the Beach Road construction. \u201cWe might just keep it here at Industrial Drive\u2026 People have fun having the road to themselves this early in the morning versus running on the sidewalk\u2026 This place is actually where they do the U.S. Army Reserve Fitness test course\u2014the only difference is Run Saipan blessed it with a certified course.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that Run Saipan\u2019s goal is to certify their courses for the sake of sports tourism in the CNMI and bring in elite runners from around the world.<\/p>\n

This race is sponsored by Latte Built and is a sanctioned race by Northern Marianas Athletics.<\/p>\n

It was inspired by the U.S. Army Combat Physical Fitness Test, in which they do a 2-mile run among other workouts.<\/p>\n

Dela Cruz then thanked Latte Built and owner Derek Cutting for their continued support and sponsorship, the race participants, IT&E\u2019s Rob Harrell, the Department of Public Safety, Saipan Tribune<\/em>, and Marianas Variety<\/em>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Chef Jody O\u2019Sullivan raises his arms at the finish line after crossing first and setting a new course record with his time of 11:11 in the 4th Annual 4th of July Independence Day 2-Mile Race yesterday morning at the Smiling Cove parking lot.<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n

Tania Tan smiles her way to the finish line of the 4th Annual 4th of July Independence Day 2-Mile Race yesterday morning at the Smiling Cove parking lot.<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n

Participants of the 4th Annual 4th of July Independence Day 2-Mile Race pose for a group photo at the new course that starts at the Smiling Cove parking lot yesterday morning.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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