
By Patrick Lujan
SAIPAN – She makes it look easy almost all the time, smiling throughout her races. This time, it was different.
Manami Iijima-Martin won the half marathon Saturday morning in the final event of the 2022 Pacific Mini Games, her third gold of the week, but not without serious mental and physical challenges.
With the event having a start time of 5:30 am, Iijima-Martin said it just wasn’t a good feeling from the beginning, feeling sluggish and not fresh because of her lack of sleep the previous two nights.
“I didn’t sleep well for two days and that caught up with me at about mile nine,” an exhausted Manami said. “I thought I got passed at the finish, but I didn’t. So all is well.”
On the way back to Micro Beach toward the finish, she even stopped for probably 30 seconds in exhaustion. As she crossed the finish line, she slowly fell to a turtle position in obvious pain beyond exhaustion.
“I think today felt harder than a Half Ironman. It was definitely because of the lack of sleep.”
Despite the sluggish performance (in her eyes), her awesomeness was still good enough to bring home the gold.
After taking the sprint triathlon on Monday and aquathlon on Wednesday in Luta, it’s time to get back home to be with her dogs.
Iijima-Martin will leave Saipan with more hardware added to her collection with her three gold. In the 2006 Micronesian Games, she scooped up 10 medals (7 gold) in swimming as a youngster before evolving into a pro triathlete.
Men’s Division
Ryan Matienzo came in 6th place at one hour, 19 minutes, 29 seconds. Matienzo said the front pack was super fast and he was just glad to catch up to some runners after the turn. Derek Mandell finished 12th at 1:28:18. Arthur Toves did not finish.
Tahiti stud Benjamin Zorgnotti took gold in 1:15:05.
The course started and finished at Micro Beach and ran along Beach Road with the turn by World Resort in Susupe.
The half marathon concludes athletic events for the Games with only the Closing Ceremonies left to wrap things up here in Saipan.


GPS Sports Calendar
March 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for February
28th
Events for March
2nd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
Events for March
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
ISA GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
4th
35th RAINBOWS FOR ALL CHILDREN 3.5 MILER
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE FINALS
Events for March
5th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 3
Events for March
5th
Events for March
6th
Events for March
7th
Events for March
9th
Events for March
11th
GSPN PRESEASON BOYS VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT DAY 1
Bank of Guam Block Party 5K
Events for March
12th
Events for March
13th
Events for March
14th
Events for March
15th
Events for March
17th
World Athletics Indoor Championships
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
18th
PAY-LESS KICK THE FAT 5K/10K
World Athletics Indoor Championships
Events for March
19th
Events for March
21st
Events for March
25th
MARIANAS OPEN PRO JAPAN TOURNAMENT
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
26th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 4
Events for March
28th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
30th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
31st
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

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Volleyball
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MMA/Boxing
BENAVENTE BRINGS RARE SKILL TO FIGHT GAME

Jiu-Jitsu
ATOS BRINGS BACK 44 MEDALS FROM JAPAN

Volleyball
EAGLES HOLD OFF WARRIORS IN 5 SETS

Volleyball
TIYAN DROPS SET FOR FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS
COMING SOON …
- 4th Quarter Sports
QUICK HITS
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Guam MTB National Championship: Edward Oingerang and Jennifer Camacho are your 2023 MTB national champions. Oingerang finished the course in 1:13:24 while Camacho won her second straight title in 54:08.