Sports Leigh-Out Feb. 14-20

Hafa Adai yan Tirow sports fans, this is Leigh Gases bringing you Marianas Press’ weekly wrap up—the Sports Leigh-Out for the week of February 14-February 20.

Let’s take a closer look at what our athletes have been up to in off-island competitions and on their home turf—whether it’s on the pitch, mat, courts, fields, track, or the beautiful ocean.

Tania Tan sets new indoor 1-mile nat’l record

Tania Tan returned to the races with even more pep in her step as the usual middle distance/long distance runner took to the indoor 1-mile race at The Circuit NYC and broke the CNMI record with a time of 5:22.51.

The event was held at the Armory Track in New York last Saturday. The old 1-mile record was her previous run in 2020 at the Armory Last Chance with a time of 6:02.33.

Then, just two days after her record-breaking mile, she competed in the NYRR Night at the Races #4 and set a season’s best in the women’s 3,000m with a time of 10:31.31.

Stay tuned for the full feature only at Marianas Press.

Run Saipan hosts grueling 3-day Trinity Race

Victor Nash Santos continues to etch his name as one of Saipan’s fastest runners as he won all three races of Run Saipan’s lung-busting, adrenaline pumping, and grueling, three-day 2025 Trinity Race held over the weekend.

Day 1 last Saturday was the Beach Road Pathway 10K, and the Saipan International School student cruised through the scenic route at 39:25. Second was fellow schoolmate Landen Taflinger at 42:02. Jordan Ruiz came in third at 44:26.

The very next day on Day 2 last Sunday, at the Mt. Tapochau 5K, he traversed the unforgiving hills like it was another normal day at an impressive time of 24:38. Second was Taflinger again at 25:46, while Ruiz came in third again at 28:21.

On the last day, the Marpi Trail Run 5K last Monday, Nash completed the hat-trick by coming in first for the final time from the course that started at the Last Command Post to Cowtown, and on the trail to Banzai Cliff at 18:12. Second was Taflinger at 18:58, and Takeru Jim came in third at 19:20.

In the women’s division, Krista Hawley was the most dominant runner as she, like Santos, swept all three days. On the first day, she clocked in at 50:59. Second was Addalee Taflinger with 51:14, and third was Terra Allen at 51:47.

On the second day, Hawley was first again at 32:42; second was Addalee with 33:19; and third was Allen at 34:13. On the last day, it was the triple threat once again as Hawley wrapped up the race with a time of 23:33. Addalee was just 10 seconds behind at 23:43, while Allen came in at 23:58.

Santos, therefore, was the men’s division champion with an accumulated time of 1:22:15. Landen was second at 1:26:46, while Ruiz claimed third place with 1:33:22. Hawley was the overall women’s division champion with a total time of 1:47:14. Addalee was second at 1:48:16, and Allen was third at 1:49:58.

PSS Sports: FMS still undefeated, DMS beats SIS; Tatagas swim past Hilitais, 14-6

Francisco M. Sablan Middle School Napu Riders are still on top of the food chain in the PSS-NMIVA Interscholastic Boys Middle School Volleyball League 2024-2025 with seven straight wins.

Their most recent conquest was against Saipan Community School on Thursday in two swift sets, 21-4, 21-15. In the adjacent court, Dandan Middle School pulled off a comeback win against Saipan International in the winner-take-all third set, 18-21, 21-13, 16-14.

In other results that afternoon, Mount Carmel School won against Hopwood Middle School, 21-12, 21-9, and Tanapag Middle School beat Chacha Ocean View Middle School, 21-18, 21-19.

As for the continuation of the PSS-NMI Softball Association Interscholastic Girls Middle School Fastpitch Softball League 2024-2025 last Saturday, Tanapag Middle School held down Hopwood Middle School Hilitais, 14-6. In the other game that morning, Mount Carmel School took down Chacha Oceanview Middle School, 16-10.

15U hoops league underway

The 2025 NMIBF 15U Boys Basketball League has been underway at the Koblerville Gymnasium since its opening day of games last Saturday.

There are eight teams that include Peacemakers, Jr. Ol’Aces, Madflex 1, Madflex 2, Prospects 1, Prospects 2, G Rollers 1, and YG G Rollers 2. There are seven rounds of regular season play every Saturday at 2pm, 3:30pm, and 5pm, and every Tuesday at 5:30pm and 6:45pm.

On the first day of games last Saturday, the Jr. Ol’Aces made a few clutch conversions to pull past Prospects 1, 39-36. Before that, Prospects 2 blew out YG G Rollers, 54-23. On the second day of games on Tuesday, Jr. Ol’Aces wrapped up the evening with a win over Prospects 2, 69-46. Meanwhile, to kick off Day 2, Madflex 2 beat Peacemakers, 44-28.

The playoff rounds are slated for March 29, the semis are set for March 31, and the championships are on April 4.

Rotary hosts 2nd End Polio Cycling Challenge

The Rotary Club of Saipan hosted its 2nd Annual 2025 End Polio Now Cycling Challenge last Feb. 1, with the starting line at the Banzai Cliff in Marpi.

The challenge featured 83 registered participants, ranging in age from four to 70 years old.

A unique highlight of the event was the kids' course, where 16 young riders completed either the 2.6km or 5.2km course based on their age bracket. For adult participants, the event featured both road and mountain bike divisions, offering a long course (30km) and short course (20km). While an e-bike division was available, there were no registrants in that category this year.

According to Rotary Saipan, the proceeds from the Cycling Challenge will directly support Rotary International's End Polio Now campaign, a global initiative dedicated to eradicating polio. While polio has been eliminated in most parts of the world, continued efforts and fundraising are critical to achieving total eradication.

The Rotary Club of Saipan extends its deepest gratitude to all participants, volunteers, and sponsors who contributed to making this event a huge success. With strong community support, the club hopes to continue this cycling challenge as a beloved annual tradition for years to come.

For race results and further details, contact Dr. Lily Muldoon at lily.muldoon@gmail.com or at +1(303)-887-3304.

Saipan Swim Club hosts Meek & Mighty swim event

Saipan Swim Club hosted the Meek & Mighty swim event last Saturday with 60 participants of all ages taking a dip at the shores of Pacific Islands Club.

In the U10 500m girls race, Gwen Retardo was first at 9.27 seconds; second was Andrea Ryu at 13.05; and third was Lucy Shin with 13.39 seconds. Vince Seman Jr. came in first in the U10 boys 500m at 12.34 seconds; second was Leo Li at 13.02 seconds; and third was Declan Spaeth with 13.20 seconds.

In the U12 girls 1,000m, first place was Sera Guerrero with a time of 19.15; second was Catalina Frink who clocked in at 20.15; and third was Eva Shin at 23.33. Sungwoo Lee swam to first place in the U12 boys 1,000m at 23.39; second was Xingchen Wang at 25.36; and third was P.J. Seman at 27.59.

Husband and wife tandem Jacoby and Kathy Winkfield were first and second place respectively at 36.06 and 36.10 in the 1,000m open.

Maria Guerrero was first place in the U14 girls 1,500m at 28.38; Sari Barman was second at 30.43; and Mia Camacho came in third at 32.09. Matthew Szefler was the lone swimmer in the boys division and clocked in at 31.11. In the open division, David Roberto was first at 36.08, while Richard Sikkel was second at 45.25.

In the men’s 2,000m, first place went to Richard Zhao who clocked in at 36.39; second was Christian Villacrusis at 40.49; and third was Takeru Jim at 40.55. In the women’s division, first was Shoko Litulumar at 38.55; second was Nagi Tenorio with 48.18; and third was Robyn Spaeth at 1:01.33.

And in the 2,500m races, the fastest male swimmer was Justin Ma at 47.02; second was Kouki Watanabe with 47.38; and third was Michael Miller at 48.20. Maria Batallones was the fastest female with a time of 48.10; second was Yulia Aleksenko at 50.58; and third was Savita Sikkel at 54.57.