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FAMILIAR FACES AGAIN TOP HAFA MARATHON

The top male and female finishers for the 45th Hafa Marathon in 2016 were more than just familiar faces. Ryan Matienzo and Manami Iijima, for the second straight year, topped all their divisional runners during Saturday mornings half-marathon from Anderson Airforce Base to Gun Beach.

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By Robert Balajadia

The top male and female finishers for the 45th Hafa Marathon in 2016 were more than just familiar faces. Ryan Matienzo and Manami Iijima, for the second straight year, topped all their divisional runners during Saturday mornings half-marathon from Andersen Airforce Base to Gun Beach.

Matienzo, who was also nursing an ankle injury suffered just days before, finished just seconds slower than last year’s 1:15:29 coming in at 1:15:42 this time around. The course was the same, but the race this year had a different feeling for Matienzo with fellow runner Derek Mandell not participating this year as he heals from an injury.

“I had no one to really push me or pace with me. If I end up slowing down [Derek] usually push me and we both end up pushing each other to our limits,” said Matienzo of Mandell’s absence.

Two Lovers point was always a difficult run due to the amount of pot holes, but Matienzo said the cop cars following close behind him lit up the way to make his race a little easier.

For Iijima, her 1:31:42 personal record from last year was beat by nearly three minutes in this years race at 1:28:52.

“I’ve just had more consistent training and I’ve had very good supporters this year,” said Iijima on how she was able to shatter her PR.

Both runners were using this years Hafa Marathon to again get ready from the upcoming Guam Interational Marathon in April.

“I felt that if I could hit a new PR today that hopefully means I can hit my PR during the GIM as well,” said Iijima.

“This is a good way to see where you stand for the upcoming GIM. A lot of us use this race as a way to gauge oursleves for that event and today’s run was great. The weather was really good this morning,” added Matienzo.

Results will be posted when available…

Manami Iijima takes a victory photo after shattering her PR in the Hafa Marathon. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Manami Iijima takes a victory photo after shattering her PR in the Hafa Marathon. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

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COMING SOON …

  • High School Football starts Sept. 29
  • 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.
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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.

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