Saipan Outrigger Canoe Club and Guam's Poksai earned a free trip to Palau for next year's 12th Micronesian Cup.

SOCC and Poksai took the overall title in the men's and women's divisions of the 11th Micronesian Cup outrigger canoe competition, allowing them to win six round-trip tickets each, courtesy of event sponsor Continental Airlines.

SOCC emerged with the most points in the weekend event held in the waters off Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan. It collected 46 points to beat Guam's Haggan (42) and Animum Tasi Metgot (41) for the men's overall title.

Points were given based on how teams finished in the preliminary and final races. A first place finish earns a team 10 points, nine for second, and so on.

SOCC, which was composed of Sonny Downer, Joe Przyuski, Scott Hayden, Jim Sirok, Justin Mariano, Richard Sikkel, and Gil Birnbrich, topped the men's 500m and was second in the finals of the 1,500m and 12-mile races. In the preliminary races, SOCC finished first both in the 500m and 1,500m events.

Birnbrich said SOCC is looking forward to defend the overall title in Palau next year. He added Saipan paddlers enjoyed having tough races against strong visiting teams.

Animum Tasi Metgot ruled the men's 1,500m and 12-mile race, but dropped to only third place overall, as it placed only fifth in the 500m finals and fourth in the preliminary. Metgot had Joe Nowell, Shawn Franquez, Niklauos Chaco, Nate Chac, Mike James, Kai Artero, Pete Calori, Jeff Nantin, and Brooke Estes.

Haggan was third in the finals of the 1,500m and 12-mile races, and second in the 500m sprint. In the 1,500m preliminary race, Haggan was runner-up to Metgot and first in Heat 2 of the 500m race.

Members of Haggan were Scott Ishizu, Carl Aguon, Brad Villacrusis, Darren Guitierrez, Dave Camacho, Dave Blas, Al Sgambelluri, Duce Romias, and John Lacap.

Other teams that joined the two-day races and their total points in parentheses were Napun Haya (32), Waterfall Palau (28), Guatdan Tasi (27), Animum Tasi Fotte (26), Saipan's Fatuul (16), Taotao Galaide (7), Homegrown (5), and Bihun Tasi (3).

In the women's division, Poksai topped the preliminaries and finals of all three events to tally 50 points and prevail over Animum Tasi Metgot (45) and Animum Tasi Fottte (39).

Poksai's six members were made up of Natalie Calvo, Annie Gayle, Michelle Cerizo, Johanna Pfannenstiel, Nancy Greider, and Ann Marie Gawel.

Metgot, which was composed of Jennice Eckert, Jubs Estes, Leann Coleman, Chanty Fairholt, Pua Crisostomo, Pisha Del Cruz, Tia Flores, Madison Taitano, Lisha Taitano, was second in the preliminary and finals races in the 1,500, 500, and 12-mile races.

Fotte finished third in the preliminary and final races in the 1, 500 and 12-mile races, and fourth in the 500m. Fotte was composed of Jasmin Benavente, Annie Leon Guerrero, Sonia Alcom, Debbie Retuyan, Sue Schlub, Gabby Aguon, Angy Evarola, Rae Anderson, Ashley Evarola.

Other teams entered in the women's division were Mas Poksai (35 points), Fatuul (27), Taotao Galaide (24), and Lantau (5).

In the mixed division, Metgo reached the finish line first in one hour, 35 minutes, and 54 seconds, beating Japan's Ohana Hoe (1:39:37), Napun Haya (1:41:34), Galaide (1:46:06), and Saipan's Fatuul (1:49:32).

The Top 3 placers in each races received Micronesian bailer trophies during the awards ceremony on Sunday night at the pool side of the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan.