INGRATITUDE or USING THE CHANCE ?
I suppose it could be considered ungrateful of us to be invited to participate in the Olympic Day Fun Run in Nauru and then win both Mens' and Womens' trophies !
That in fact is what happened this morning. The race started at 8.00 a.m. on a warm, dry morning. The course was a one-way 5.4k. stretch of the island's main road which had been closed to traffic and aircraft ! More than one thousand runners were registered, of all ages and sizes. The overall winner was Kiribati male athlete Tekooki Teieka, experienced international and medallist. The runner-up was from Marshall Islands, Wilson John, in this first-ever overseas invitational version of this 13-year-old event.
Then we were looking for the first woman to finish and Banrenga Baikia of Kiribati fulfilled expectations by finishing strongly and breaking 25 minutes. Thus we used the opportunity and added to the cement which is gradually bonding this end of Micronesia together for Athletics, following the Tri-Rigger event last weekend.
We are immensely grateful to Nauru for the invitation and the hospitality. We look forward to reciprocating in the near future.
PODIUM RESULTS.
Mens' Category: 1. Tekooki Teieka. (K) 20-54 2. Wilson John. (M) 22-04 3. Torio Mwareao. (N) 22-08
Womens' Category: 1. Banrenga Baikia. (K) 24-40 2. Teresa Dake. (N) 34-03 3. Marie Rose Dake. (N) 34-04
Disabled Category: MALE: 1. Conroy Detabene. (N) 44-26 FEMALE: 1. Starcella Engar. (N) 45-20
Last Modified on 02/07/2007 18:09