
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
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
15th
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
3×3 HOOPS REPEAT AS GOLDEN BOYS

Basketball
RAPADAS LEADS WILD COUGAR COMEBACK

Baseball
GUAM HOSTS KIWIS IN U15 BASEBALL

Basketball
SHARKS FEND OFF DOLPHINS IN GIRLS HOOPS

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs