Islanders win tight Sotteru/Sottera races

GUAM-With only one week remaining before championship Saturday, Matapang Beach in Tumon was the site for the final regular season competition in the 2009 Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam/Guam Kayak and Canoe Federation Kareran Galaide Series of races. Clear skies and calm waters made good weather conditions for athletes to take to the waters. Competition was tight in the 1,000-meter Sotteru/Sottera mixed event's three heats -- only about 30 seconds separated the fastest team from the fifth-place finisher. In the opening heat, beachgoers witnessed a close contest between the John F. Kennedy Islanders and the Southern High Dolphins. The two teams stayed side by side at the start, however on the first turn the Islanders pulled away when the Dolphins had some trouble after they hit the flag marker on their attempted turn. "I called for the turn too early. But that's okay, because JFK did a good job, too," said Dolphins steersman Brooke Estes. Despite making up time later in the heat, Southern's finish in 6 minutes, 28.68 seconds wasn't good enough to beat the Islanders' 6:16.02 finishing time. The Simon Sanchez Sharks finished the heat in third with a time of 6:55.78. "We just focused on our race, ... we don't look at our opponents. It's all just forward and paddle," said JFK steersman Kasha Sachs. After being in a tie during most of the second heat, the Guam High Panthers pulled away from the St. Paul Warriors and Okkodo Bulldogs to take the victory. In the third and final heat, the Father Duenas Friars/Academy of Our Lady of Guam Cougars took a lead after the first turn and never looked back, leaving the the Notre Dame Royals and George Washington Geckos in their wake. Final time compilations had the Islanders finishing first, the Panthers second with a time of 6:22.56, the Dolphins third, while St. Paul (6:35.06) and FD/AOLG (6:45.86) round out the top five. The Dolphins Sottera paddlers continued to stay atop the league after they paddled their way to another first-place finish in their 1,000-meter race. The Southern girls finished the race with a time of 6:33.66, nearly 20 seconds faster than second-place Geckos. Guam High, Notre Dame and St. Paul rounded out the top five slots in the race. n the Sotteru 1,000-meter race, the Dolphins' boys also outswam the competition, edging the Sharks by five seconds to take the victory. Southern finished with a time of 5:50.31, while the Sharks finished with a 5:55.79. The Guam High Panthers ran a close third with a time of 5:56.54. JFK and GW round out the fourth and fifth positions with times of 5:57.14 and 5:57.94, respectively. Other results: s Manhoben 500-meter Boys (Sotteru): FD, 2:48.99; Southern, 2:55.73; GW, 3:02.53; ND, 3:04.65; Guam High, 3:07.38; St. Paul, 3:12.53. s Manhoben 500-meter Girls (Sottera): SSHS, 3:27.07; ND, 3:29.30; JFK, 3:35.17; Okkodo, 3:40.06; Guam High, 3:40.55. Manhoben 500-meter Mixed: SSHS, 3:27.22; Southern, 3:32.55; ND, 3:37.89; Okkodo, 3:46.85; FD/AOLG, 3:51.77; GW, 3:58.25; Guam High, 3:58.49. IIAAG Volleyball The Guam High Panthers scored a victory against the John F. Kennedy Islanders yesterday in an IIAAG Volleyball League contest at Guam High. The Panthers won the match 25-22, 25-15. Friday night was a different story for the Panthers, though, as they were on the losing end of a match against the Harvest Christian Academy Eagles. After a close first set, the Eagles finished off the match 25-23, 25-15. The Eagles won the junior varsity match 25-16. 25-10. Panthers coach Ed Paz provided the information. George Washington Geckos def. Okkodo Bulldogs 25-11, 25-21: The Geckos won the JV match in three sets. GW athletic director Martin Boudreau provided the information. Masters Baseball The AK Dream Team used a 12-run seventh inning to crush the Korea J Masters 16-5 in their Masters Baseball League game last night at Paseo Stadium. The Korea J Masters led 5-4 in the top of the seventh when the Dream Team went on their run. Paul Carbullido was the winning pitcher and Dennis Rivera got stuck with the loss. Guam A's 5, PacSports Giants 4: The A's Tom Palomo led the way for his team by going 3-for-4 with two doubles. League scorekeeper Arlene Borja provided the information. Running The 10-man team HSC-25, representing the helicopter squadron at Andersen Air Force Base, won the Guam Running Club's 40th Annual PIC Perimeter Relay yesterday that started and ended at the United Seaman's Club in Piti. They clocked in at 5 hours, 6 minutes and 28 seconds. Japan Running Club 3 crossed the finish line second in 5:10.50, and Flaming Marshmellows came in third in 5:13.05. Race official G. Marsh provided the information.