MANDELL, BOWMAN TOPS TSUNAMI 10K

By Michael J.A. Nauta Jr.

Tsunami 10K winners Peri Bowman and Derek Mandell. (photo courtesy of Guam Running Club)

Despite wet road conditions and some overcast, 101 of our island’s avid runners made their way down to the Nimitz Beach Park in Agat to partake in the Guam Running Club’s 29th Tsunami 10K road race.

With runners as young as nine up to 70-plus, the course led participants to Rizal Beach before making their way back to finish line. While competition in both the male and female divisions provided some excitement, it was Derek Mandell and Peri Bowman who made their way to the finish line first garnering top honors in the event.

“Despite the wet roads and overcast it was a great day for running this event,” said sub master division runner Elaine Kwok. “Derek and Ryan (Matienzo) did an excellent job as usual, but what made the race a bit more exciting is the presence of 9-year-old Shunki Niwase (Japanese visitor).”

The six-plus mile race was fairly flat as the trio of Mandell, Matienzo, and Niwase kept within stride of one another for the first two miles. However, Mandell slowed pulled away from the small pack and cruise, pulling away to beat out Matienzo by 26 seconds. Mandell’s official race time was recorded at 35:54, while Matienzo clocked in at 36:20.

Here with his parents for a three-day vacation, Niwase was as strong a runner you can ask for from a 9-year old. Sticking with Mandell and Matienzo on the way out proved to be effective, as the motivation seemed to push Niwase’s competitive drive. After crossing the finish line Niwase officially placed third overall and recorded a time of 40:16, while being the only youth division runner in the race.

“This 9-year-old kid is only here for a weekend vacation with his parents and it’s their first time on Guam,” said Kwok. “He kept his pace really strong and was able to run with the top two guys on the way out.”

In the women’s division, Bowman had no problems defeating her field of female competitors to claim the top spot. Coming in with a time of 41:34, Bowman beat her nearest competitor Tamami Smith (47:29) by more than five minutes. Completing the out and back course in third was master’s division runner Namiko Kawasaki. Kawasaki finished in 49:07.

The younger athletes weren’t the only ones making waves. In the 70-plus division, three runners proved to many that age is nothing but a number. In the female division, Julie Cabe (1:20:43) claimed top honors in her division, while the men’s had two participants in Richard Harvey (53:19) and Gaynel Marsh (56:36).

Some of the divisional top winners of the Tsunami 10K road race.