By Robert Balajadia
Guam’s Track & Field team dominated the Micro Games just last year collecting the most amount of medals for Team Guam for their stay. With a team of two former Olympians, Guam record holders and stars in their own right, the athletics team is rearing to go for the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa.
Derek Mandell and Regine Tugade, two of Guam’s latest Olympians, headline a group of 13 strong competitors. Tugade is the fastest female in the Marianas, hitting new heights at the Navy Academy in sprinting. Mandell has been dominating the local running circuit the past year and is back, ready to compete in the Pacific Games.
A handful of high school stars who went to compete in collegiate track & field will be back for Guam with Alison Bowman, Emma Sheedy, and Bleu Perez all linking up with the squad headed to Samoa. Stars from the local scene in Genina Criss and Paul John Dimalanta step back in to international competitive with Criss running her staple 800m and 1500m events while PJD will tackle the sprints.
Guam’s lone thrower will be Genie Gerardo, the record holder for almost all of Guam’s throwing events.
Stars from the latest track & field season in high school will be stepping on their biggest stage with Madison Packbier and Richelle Tugade looking to build off a terrific Micro Games.
Distance runners joining Mandell will be Benjamin Middlebrooke, who also had a great Micro Games collecting three medals, with Nashista Benavente the lone female taking on the 5000m.
Guam will only have two competitors in the Triathlon race with Kristina Woesner and Craig Weymoth braving Samoa’s circuit.
List of competing events
Nashista Benavente – 5000m, 1000m
Alison Bowman – 800m, 1500m, 3000m Steeple
Genina Criss – 800m, 1500m
Genie Gerardo – SP, DT, HT, JAV
Madison Packbier – 200m, 400m, 800m
Emma Sheedy – 400m, 1500m
Regine Tugade – 100m, 200m, 400h
Richelle Tugade – 100m, 100h, 400h
Paul John Dimalanta – 100m, 200m, LJ
Derek Mandell – 1500m, 5000m, Half Marathon
Benjamin Middlebrooke – 5000m, 10000m, Half Marathon
Bleu Perez – 100m, 200m
Triathlon
Kristina Woesner
Craig Weymouth
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DID U KNOW?
The FD Friars have retired running back Kein Artero’s (#3), becoming the third Friar in three years to have his number retired. 2018 saw two numbers be retired from quarterback Daniel Phillips (#6) and De’Aundre Cruz (#24).
(photo from Kein Artero on Twitter)
QUICK HITS
Bubba Nickles makes a stop at the Guam marker of the World War II Memorial in Washington DC during a team trip to the capital with the reigning national softball champion UCLA Bruins.
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The UOG Tritons have hired Bill Bennett as their new baseball manager. It has been over 20 years since UOG has had a competitive team.
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GSPN celebrates 8 years! Chartered 11/11/11
