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MANY of Guam’s high school student-athletes lined the sandy beaches of Mata’pang Beach last Saturday to participate in the season-opener of the 2011-2012 IIAAG/GKCF Kareran Galaide League. Competitors of different levels of experience represented nine high schools. Teams competed in two divisions, Manhoben (Junior Varsity) and Sotteru/Sottera (Varsity).

With the sun shining and the cool breeze blowing, paddlers in the first round of racing took it to the waters for a 500-meter race in the Manhoben Division and 1000-meter race for the Sotteru/Sottera competitors.

In second round action, all teams raced an out-and-back course for 500 meters.

Competition in the Manhoben Girls’ race was tense as five seconds separated the first and second place finishers. Finishing the race with a time of 4:42 were the George Washington Lady Geckos. Pushing the Geckos to the limit and finishing five seconds later was Okkodo High School.

Just like the battle between first and second place, the race to the finish line for third place was just as exciting as Guam High School edged out the Simon Sanchez Sharks by two seconds. The Lady Panthers clocked in an official time of 5:05, while the Sharks finished at 5:07.

In the Manhoben Boys’ division, the Southern High School Dolphins cruised to a first place finish as they defeated their nearest opponent by more than half a minute. The real race in the division was for second place as the JFK Islanders and GW Geckos were neck and neck until the final stroke.

The Islanders crossed the finish flags with a time of 3:55, while the Geckos finished one second later. Rounding out the fourth through seventh places were:

• Simon Sanchez, 4:07;
• Okkodo, 4:08;
• Guam High, 4:18; and
• Father Duenas, 4:21.

Just as competitive

The Sottera and Sotteru races in the first round were just as competitive as their junior counterparts. In the Sottera division, 10 seconds was the difference between the first and third place.

The Lady Geckos battled their way through the 1000-meter course and crossed the line in 8:43. Simon Sanchez were hot on their tails, however, they could only claim stake to second place as they finished with a time of 8:46. Rounding out the top three spots was the Academy of Our Lady of Guam Cougars. The girls from Hagåtña finished in 8:53.

In the Sotteru division, the Geckos matched their female teammates and claimed top honors after finishing with a time of 7:28. However, the first place finish wasn’t quite easy as the JFK Islanders finished a second later to finish as runners-up. The Southern Dolphins proved worthy enough to take third place as they finished in 7:45.

View more photos in our gallery.

Other race results:

Manhoben Mix:
1st: JFK Islanders, 3:56
2nd: GW Geckos, 4:10
3rd: Okkodo Bulldogs, 4:14

Sottera/Sotteru Mix:
1st: JFK Islanders, 7:48
2nd: GW Geckos, 7:55
3rd: Okkodo Bulldogs, 8:11

Round 2 (500m) Results:

Manhoben Girls:
1st: Okkodo
2nd: GW
3rd: Simon Sanchez

Manhoben Boys:
1st: JFK
2nd: GW
3rd: Okkodo

Manhoben Mix:
1st: JFK
2nd: Okkodo
3rd: GW

Sotteru:
1st: GW
2nd: JFK
3rd: Simon Sanchez

Sottera:
1st: Simon Sanchez
2nd: Okkodo
3rd: Southern

Sottera/Sotteru:
1st: JFK
2nd: Okkodo
3rd: GW