Tangi, Hawley top 6th Independence Day 2-miler

Rain or shine, Latte Built’s long-awaited 6th Annual Independence 2-Mile Race 2026 finally went underway after two delays in the early morning of Saturday, Aug. 29 in front of Latte Built Gym. 

This was also Run Saipan’s first official road race back since Super Typhoon Sinlaku, with over 20 participants taking on the course that headed one mile north then a mile back to the gym.

Braving the slippery roads and through soaked shirts and shoes, first place in the men’s division went to Honofre Tangi at 14:10, second was James Munnis at 14:18, and Ariel Lapuz was 15:53. In the women’s division, Krista Hawley came in first at 16:04, second was Deverly Madracheluib at 19:13, and third was Doyi Kim with 20:09.

Also during the race, three participants ran the whole course with the U.S. flag. As to why, Latte Built’s general manager Ralph Villas said, “we wanted to do a tribute to the 250th birthday of America, so we’re giving away a one month express membership for anyone that runs the entire duration of the race holding a 3x5 flag.”

The turnout, he said, “was pretty great. We were expecting like 10 people but I think we had over 29 that showed up so that’s pretty great.”

With it being the 6th annual, Villas said it’s one of the veteran-owned gym’s ways of giving back. He then thanked Run Saipan, Northern Marianas Athletics, and the people who showed up to race.

More photos on our Facebook page.