TOFOL, Kosrae (FSM Information Service): July 18, 1997 – As
of yesterday, July 17, 1997, the FSM games have awarded 31 medals to
athletes from the four states competing in Kosrae. The medals awarded
include 18 for Pohnpei, 10 for Kosrae, two for Chuuk and one for Yap.
The second day of the games competition started under a blazing,
early morning sun as the first of the two-day swimming competition
took center stage.
Swimmers representing only two states, Pohnpei and Kosrae, took to
the newly constructed 50 meter four-lane saltwater pool in Lelu at 8
am. Hundreds of spectators lied the causeway and streets to watch
their athletes churn the dredged waters.
By the end of the day’s swimming competition, Pohnpei swept every
events with nine gold medals. Pohnpei also nabbed six silver medals.
Up for grabs were six men’s and women’s medal events; 400 meter
freestyle, 50 meter breaststroke, 50 meter backstroke, 100 meter
freestyle, men’s only 100 meter butterfly, and the 4×50 medley relay.
Betsy Laughton, representing Kosrae in the 50 meter breaststroke,
flew from Salinas, California to compete. Though she took a bronze
medal, the third year Hartnell College nursing student said the
competition was high and the pool, fast.
Bill Sokovich, Northern Mariana Islands Amateur Sports
Association, President and Kathy Tessier of ASP 2000 served as
swimming officials.
Kosrae and Yap Medal
Kosrae received its first gold medal of the Games July 17, in
men’s team tennis with a 5-1 victory over Pohnpei. Yap also got on
the medal board with a bronze in table tennis after defeating Chuuk, 5-1.
Glamour Sports Take Off
During mid-afternoon at the jammed-packed Tofol Sports Complex
track, four heats were competed in each of the men’s and women’s 100
meter sprints and 400 meter run.
Kosrae took two of four heats, but it was Chuuk’s Josephine Sones
and Pohnpei’s Yolanny Manuel who blazed the trail with identical 14.1
second times. Reileen Albert, Pohnpei’s 100 meter gold medalist in
the 1995 Games, lost a squeaker to Kosrae’s 13 year old barefoot
sensation Kasey Tilfas by :03 seconds.
In the men’s 100 meter sprints, Chuuk took two heats and Pohnpei
and Kosrae one each. Peter Jackson from Kosrae powered through the
finish line at 12.1 seconds, followed by Chuuk’s Marno Kinfro :02
seconds later.
The 400 meter results were unavailable at press time.
Spiker take to Courts
Yap’s women spikers made it look easy with an aggressive
combination of blocking and serving in the first volleyball games as
they trounced Chuuk in straight sets, 15-2, 15-8, and 15-5 in the
best of five format. The second women’s games features Pohnpei vs.
Kosrae.
In men’s volleyball action, Yap takes on Chuuk; Pohnpei will go
against Kosrae. Scores will be available sometime today, July 18.
Pitching Key to Pohnpei Win
In the first baseball game played during the Games, Pohnpei
continued its ’95 Games winning ways with a 6-2 pitching duel over Kosrae.
Pohnpei’s starting pitcher, Stabley Scalieum, pitched a full nine
innings giving up only one earned run. Kosrae’s pitcher Isaac Joel
left the bottom of the eighth with the score 1-2.
“This was a very exciting pitcher’s duel, with both men doing
their utmost,” said Pearl Kissel, Peace Corps volunteer from
California and noted baseball enthusiast.
