A forecast of running, jumping, and throwing

Running, jumping, and throwing was basically the forecast for the two-day NMA Open Track and Field Meet 2026 last Thursday, June 18, and Friday, June 19 at the Oleai Sports Complex, as over 70 participants braved the actual forecast of rain.

While Day 1 brought passing showers, Day 2 was as hot as can be, with competitors turning up the heat on both the track and in the field events.

National athletics coach Elias Rangamar said Northern Marianas Athletics runs the meet every year, and this one came after a shortened Public School System track and field season after Super Typhoon Sinlaku. And even with the track still showing some of the storm, athletes and volunteers pushed through. He said it was really about the community sticking it out and keeping the sport going.

He added the meet helps with funding applications for equipment and travel, and doubles as a way to spot new talent and keep the masters program active. The 100m races also doubled as a sort of tryout for the Oregon World Athletics U20 Championships in August. He also hopes there’s more events and competition leading up to the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti.

He then invited those who are interested to come and train. “Anybody out there that has kids who are interested in learning about athletics—this is the sport that is kind of like the foundation of every other sport—you run, jump, and throw. So yeah, we welcome everybody, and it’s free.”

On Day 1 in the 60m races, Angel San Nicolas won the Masters Men 30-34 division in 9.06 seconds, followed by Simon Necesito in 9.34. Christina Tudela took the Women 30-34 title in 10.70, while Raymond Santos ran 7.57 in the Men 35-39 division with Orrin Pharmin next in 8.09. Krista Hawley won the Women 55-59 category in 10.27, and Paul Khang topped the Men 75-79 division in 12.31.

The 100m events saw Simon Tang win the Open Men’s race in 11.68 seconds, ahead of Dave Odicta in 11.86 and Mokyang Kim in 12.47. In the Open Women’s division, Kaithlyn Chavez finished first in 13.44, with Iris Rasa second in 13.87 and Bianca Long third in 15.76. In the Masters 100m, Raymond Santos won Men 35-39 in 12.28, James Lee led the Men’s 45-49 in 14.03, followed by Ponce Rasa in 14.25 and Joel Phair in 14.44.

The 800m races saw Austin Bucher win the Open Men’s event in 2:14.56, with Frank Lumanlan second in 2:22.66 and Grant Li third in 2:35.03. Genelyn Lansangan ran unopposed in the Open Women’s race in 3:09.02. In the Masters division, Kurt Songsong won the Men’s 35 in 3:35.73, while Joel Phair took the Men’s 45 title in 2:47.59.

In the long jump, Theodore Rodgers and Kian Helgen both recorded 5.31m in the Open Men’s division, with Rodgers winning on countback. Mokyang Kim placed third with 5.17m. In the Masters Men’s division, Joel Phair won with 4.52m, while Leo Wania followed with 2.75m. Gregory Borja topped the Men 50+ division with a jump of 4.03m.

The shot put saw Peyton Basa take the Open Men’s gold with 11.10m, followed closely by Yong Lin at 10.86m and Jared Ayuyu at 10.85m. In the Men 30-34 division, David Barnhouse won with 9.15m, while Angel San Nicolas placed second at 7.07m. Joel Phair won the Men 45-49 division at 7.68m, with Leo Wania at 6.99m. Daniel Joab led the Men 50-54 division with 10.49m, ahead of Gregory Borja at 7.22m. In the women’s events, Shaina Malonzo won the Open Women’s shot put with 8.30m, followed by Stacy Arriola at 7.85m. In the Masters Women’s divisions, Sly Taggart won the 45-49 category with 9.22m, Krista Hawley topped the 55-59 division at 6.25m, and Maria Ornes won the 60-64 division with 8.56m.

On Day 2 in the javelin, Peyton Basa edged Javen Camacho 44.57m to 44.30m in the Open Men’s division, with Devin Yumul taking third at 35.36m. In the Open Women’s javelin, Maria Quitugua won with 26.77m, followed by Shaina Malonzo at 22.16m and Stacy Arriola at 18.86m. In the Masters events, Ben Jones led Men 35 with 28.60m, while Nick Gross topped Men 45 with 37.35m ahead of Leo Wania at 29.37m and Joel Phair at 27.75m. Daniel Joab won Men 50 with 32.74m, Elias Rangamar recorded 22.15m in Men 60, and Rhonda Gross took the Women 45-49 division with 13.04m.

The 200m races produced another set of fast finishes, with Simon Tang completing a sprint double in the Open Men’s division in 23.61 seconds, ahead of Theodore Rodgers in 23.78 and Dave Odicta in 24.18. In the Open Women’s race, Kaithlyn Chavez won in 25.24, with Iris Rasa second in 27.17 and Bianca Long third in 29.53. In the Masters events, Raymond Santos won the Men 35-39 race in 26.31, Ben Jones followed in 30.81, and Yundong Long topped the Men 45-49 division in 31.06. Krista Hawley also won the Masters Women’s race in 30.73.

The 1,500m races saw Austin Bucher win the Open Men’s event in 4:32.03, ahead of Takeru Jim in 5:00.48 and Dylan Hilschneider in 5:35.78. In the Open Women’s race, Dianne Long finished first in 6:20.73, followed by Genelyn Lansangan in 6:37.28 and Erricka Long in 7:58.31.

And in the Masters events, Simon Necesito won the Men’s 30 in 7:24.53, Kurt Songsong took the Men’s 35 in 7:25.91, Joel Phair won the Men’s 45 in 6:13.03, and Denise Meyers topped the Women’s 35 in 6:28.63.