Connect with us

GSPN

GUAM READY FOR 2014 OCEANIA CHAMPIONSHIPS

12 of Guam’s athletes will be competing in 28 track & field events in the 2014 Oceania Area Championship in Rarotonga, which is the most populated island in The Cook Islands. Most of the team consists of veteran competitors who are hoping to at least set new personal records if not bring home any medals.

[useful_banner_manager_banner_rotation banners=36 interval=8 width=120 height=600 orderby=rand]

By Robert Balajadia

Twelve of Guam’s athletes will be competing in 28 track & field events in the 2014 Oceania Area Championship in Rarotonga, which is the most populated island in The Cook Islands from June 24-26. Most of the team consists of veteran competitors who are hoping to at least set new personal records if not bring home any medals.

Of the bunch are two of Guam’s top male runners in John Aquino and Napu Castro.

Aquino will be competing in the 5000 and 1500 meter senior races where he has been finishing with great times in practice to where Aquino believes he’s got a great chance to set new personal records (PR).

“The pace that we’re hitting is supposed to be a little bit stable, but we are moving faster because we have  a big meet Saturday. I’m looking forward to the 1500 and it’s looking like I’m set for a new PR.”

Castro, at 29 years of age, has competed in the Oceania Championships three previous times and he expects to be up against the best in the 1500 and 800 meter senior races.

“The competition is very fierce and these are guys we don’t see in Micro Games or South Pacific Games. Come race day I’ll be ready to give it my all,” said Castro.

It was a big year for the JFK Islanders track & field team after sweeping both the men’s and women’s titles and the national track team will get a great deal of participants from JFK as well, namely from Aquino to Regine Tugade. GW’s Raquel Walker will also be looking to make a strong outing in the events competing in junior and senior heats.

Tugade will be competing in two types of events in the 100 and 200 meter junior dash along with the triple jump junior. After finishing up the track & field season as strongly as she did, Tugade has seen improvements in all areas from week to week which only bodes well for her and the team.

“I trained really hard during the season with my teammates who have pushed me, like Johnny Quitugua, who has helped me a lot in the triple jump. I’ve been consistent with my times and I’m looking forwarding to setting new personal records again,” stated Tugade.

Regine Tugade leads the pack of sprinters competing in the 2014 Oceania Area Championships. (photo by Robert Balajadia

Regine Tugade leads the pack of sprinters competing in the 2014 Oceania Area Championships. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Guam will only have three throwers competing in the events behind Diana Alicto, Genie Garardo and the only male thrower in Pedro Aquininoc. During the practices everyone was partnered up with another teammate during their workout, but Aquininoc would rather have his workouts be done by himself anyway.

“I prepare myself mentally because when you’re out there throwing you’re going to be by yourself and no one’s really helping you except for your coaches. I’m really excited to compete against all those athletes out there and hopefully I can do good out there and bring back something for Guam,” said Aquininoc.

Here are the complete list of competitors and the events they will be competing in during the 2014 Oceania Area Championship.

oceania

  1. Diana Alicto – Female – Age: 23 – DOB: 29/05/1991 – Ind/Rel: 2 / 0 #14 Women Shot Put Senior 7.76m
  2. Michael Alicto – Male – Age: 32 – DOB: 28/08/1982 – Ind/Rel: 2 / 0 #54 Men Long Jump Senior 6.10m
  3. Celina Amparo – Female – Age: 17 – DOB: 7/10/1997 – Ind/Rel: 2 / 0 #9 Women 400 Metre Junior Heats 63.56
  4. Pedro Aquininoc – Male – Age: 18 – DOB: 21/10/1996 – Ind/Rel: 2 / 0 #16 Men Javelin Throw Junior 38.00m
  5. John Aquino – Male – Age: 18 – DOB: 3/05/1996 – Ind/Rel: 2 / 0 #4 Men 5000 Metre Senior 16:08.00
  6. Napu Castro – Male – Age: 29 – DOB: 3/09/1985 – Ind/Rel: 2 / 0 #58 Men 1500 Metre Senior 4:30.00
  7. Criss Genina – Female – Age: 16 – DOB: 12/01/1998 – Ind/Rel: 2 / 0 #2 Women 5000 Metre Junior 21:45.00
  8. Genie Gerardo – Female – Age: 26 – DOB: 1/10/1988 – Ind/Rel: 2 / 0 #14 Women Shot Put Senior 9.59m
  9. Bleu Perez – Male – Age: 18 – DOB: 29/09/1996 – Ind/Rel: 2 / 0 #8 Men 400 Metre Junior Heats 54.45
  10. Johnny Quitugua – Male – Age: 16 – DOB: 14/02/1998 – Ind/Rel: 3 / 0 #42 Men Triple Jump Junior 11.92m
    #64 Men 110 Metre Hurdles Junior 16.75
  11. Regine Tugade – Female – Age: 16 – DOB: 28/01/1998 – Ind/Rel: 3 / 0 #26 Women 100 Metre Junior Heats 12.75
    #115 Women 200 Metre Junior Heats 26.85
  12. 12. Raquel Walker – Female – Age: 17 – DOB: 28/07/1997 – Ind/Rel: 4 / 0
    #11 Women Long Jump Junior 4.50m #26 Women 100 Metre Junior Heats #115 Women 200 Metre Junior Heats 26.98 #117 Women 100 Metre Senior Heats

PHOTO GALLERY:

2014 Track Team leaving Guam. (courtesy photo)

2014 Track Team leaving Guam. (courtesy photo)

(photo by Robert Balajadia

Female throwers Diana Alicto and Genie Gerardo practice their shot put. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

(photo by Robert Balajadia

Lone male thrower Pedro Aquininoc launches the javelin. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

(photo by Robert Balajadia

Napu Castro and John Aquino speed up their drills and still hit good times. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

August

September 2023

October
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
Events for August

1st

Events for September

2nd

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Events for September

3rd

Events for September

3rd

No Events
Events for September

5th

Events for September

6th

Events for September

7th

Events for September

8th

Events for September

9th

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Events for September

9th

No Events
Events for September

11th

Events for September

12th

Events for September

13th

Events for September

14th

Events for September

15th

Events for September

16th

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Events for September

17th

Events for September

18th

Events for September

19th

Events for September

19th

No Events
Events for September

21st

Events for September

22nd

Events for September

23rd

24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Events for September

23rd

No Events
Events for September

25th

Events for September

26th

Events for September

27th

Events for September

28th

Events for September

29th

Events for September

30th

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

COMING SOON …

  • Brawl 3: Oct 13
  • Guam’s Strongest Man and Woman Competition October 29

 

QUICK HITS

The Figo Islanders 40s women’s softball team took gold in the Senior Softball World Championship in Las Vegas. Figo came out of the loser’s bracket and beat the Arizona Belles 17-3 in the AA division championship game Sunday afternoon.
Other Guam teams that played in the 40s tournament were: Team SOTTA (women’s) and Bud Light Guam, Friars 671 and Sindalun Guahan (men’s).
Sindalu finished a respectable 4th out of 24 AAA division teams.
——————————————————-
In Guam’s first time competing in the FIBA Asia Cup, we draw China, Japan, and Mongolia in Group C. Competition begins in 2024. Guam also moves up the FIBA world rankings to #76.

More in GSPN