Connect with us

Running/Track

PANTHERS SCOOP XC; SCHWARTZ, BADEN TOP INDIVIDUALS

Guam High wins yet another title under Joe Taitano

By Jay Leon Guerrero

The Guam High Panthers scooped the 2022 IIAAG Cross Country Championships at the All-Island Meet held at the Two Lover’s Point course.

The Panthers had five runners in the top 10 for both boys and girls races to claim another championship under legendary coach Joe Taitano.

Boy’s Team Scores
1. Guam High Panthers (GH) – 30 points
2. Father Duenas Friars (FD) – 63 points
3. St. John’s Knights (SJ) – 73 points
4. Harvest Christian Academy Eagles (HCA) – 83 points

Girl’s Team Scores
1. Guam High Panthers (GH) – 31 points
2. St. John’s Knights (SJ) – 40 points
3. Academy Cougars (AOLG) – 75 points
4. Harvest Christian Academy Eagles (HCA) – 91 points
5. Guahan Academy Charter School (GACS) – 154 points

Schwartz Claims Top Spot
Joseph Schwartz from Guam High was crowned the All-Island individual champion in the boys division with a time of 18:23.

Schwartz, a senior, said the win was an emotional one for him after suffering a right leg injury last season. “I was ready for a good season (last year) and the injury prevented me from running cross and track out there with my brothers and sisters,” said Schwartz.

Comeback Kid
After recovering from his injury, Schwartz was determined to make a comeback. With proper guidance and discipline, Schwartz accomplished his goal. “It feels amazing,” said Schwartz. “I was just trusting in the training that coach (Joe) Taitano puts me through”.

Schwartz said the training included hot afternoon runs and early Saturday morning long distance solo runs.

“I just trusted in the training program and most of all God who gave me my strength and ability to run,” added Schwartz.

Schwartz said the team camaraderie was special: “I see everyone on this team as my brothers and sisters, even outside of running. I can’t emphasize how close we are as a team”.

The Father Duenas Friars held off the St. John’s Knights to finish second in the team event. The much improved Friars had their highest finish in over a decade in Cross Country and look to contend for a championship next year with loads of up-and-coming underclassmen talent.

Alexander Clark from St. John’s finished with an impressive time of 18:38 to earn the second spot. Guam High runners Sean Muller, Trayton Crandell and Nathaniel Carlson finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively to secure the team championship. FD’s Soccer star Erwin Manibusan Jr. finished sixth with time of 19:46.  

Jordan Rules
In the girls division, St. John’s senior Jordan Baden was not to be denied of an All-Island title after finishing the course with a time of 21:43. Baden gave everything she had and needed some medical attention after the race to recover.

Baden is on a hot streak after winning the Asia Pacific Invitatational, the Oceania U20 Cross Country 6K Championships and now an IIAAG individual champion. Baden looks to add to her remarkable senior season with an ISA Track & Field gold medal next semester.

Finishing a respectable second in the girls race was Guam High’s Keira Paz (22:09) and third was Academy’s Taylor-Ann Santos (23:24).

“It feels amazing to experience winning a championship with this team and I’m proud to be a Panther,” said Paz. “The camaraderie on this team is strong and coach Taitano did all he could to prepare us for this race and I feel we did all we could to perform well,” added Paz.

The Knights finished second in the team totals, Academy had enough points to finish third.

Boys Top 10
1. Joseph Schwartz, GH – 18:23
2. Alexander Clark, SJ – 18:38
3. Sean Muller, GH – 18:56
4. Trayton Crandell, GH – 19:18
5. Nathaniel Carlson, GH – 19:26
6. Erwin Manibusan Jr,  FD – 19:46
7. Clay Martin, GH – 19:57
8. Elijah Dixon, HCA – 19:58
9. Braden Flinn, GH – 20:12
10. Luca Flores, SJ – 20:20

Girls Top 10
1. Jordan Baden, SJ – 21:43
2. Keira Paz, GH – 22:09
3. Taylor-Ann Santos,  AOLG – 23:24
4. Maeva Conroy, SJ – 23:54
5. Molly Lang, GH – 24:07
6. Elizabeth Wigley,  SJ – 24:13
7. Almira Carlson, GH – 24:19
8. Jordynn Crandell, GH – 24:52
9. Aracell Ariaga, GH – 25:15
10. Rebekah Stringham, GH – 25:32 

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

May

June 2023

July
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
Events for May

31st

No Events
Events for June

1st

No Events
Events for June

2nd

No Events
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Events for June

3rd

No Events
Events for June

4th

No Events
Events for June

5th

No Events
Events for June

6th

No Events
Events for June

7th

No Events
Events for June

8th

No Events
Events for June

9th

No Events
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Events for June

10th

No Events
Events for June

11th

No Events
Events for June

12th

No Events
Events for June

13th

No Events
Events for June

14th

No Events
Events for June

16th

Events for June

17th

18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Events for June

18th

Events for June

18th

No Events
Events for June

19th

No Events
Events for June

20th

No Events
Events for June

21st

No Events
Events for June

22nd

No Events
Events for June

23rd

No Events
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
Events for June

25th

Events for June

25th

No Events
Events for June

26th

No Events
Events for June

27th

No Events
Events for June

28th

No Events
Events for June

29th

No Events

COMING SOON …

GUAM SPORTS ON HOLD DUE TO SUPER TYPHOON MAWAR

QUICK HITS

Bishop Obispos beat Mt. Carmel for the IIAAG Middle School Girls Basketball championship 37-25.
—————————————-
The Benavente Roadrunners crushed the Agueda Pirates 17-1 to win the 76 PONY Middle School Baseball League. Rodney San Nicolas was a beat, striking out 13 batters in a complete game while going 4-for-4 at the plate, including a homer and 4 RBI.

 

More in Running/Track