In a spirited display of camaraderie and athleticism, The Clique emerged victorious in the inaugural Corporate Relay division of the 3rd Annual Michelob Ultra Beer Mile 2024, held last Friday at the Saipan Vegas Country Club’s challenging grass loop course.
The winning team, consisting of Aaron Pamintuan, Jason Palacios, Brandon Santos, and Simon Necesito, clocked in a time of 7:06, the fastest among eight competing teams. Each member ran a lap and consumed a beer, contributing to their impressive performance. Pamintuan, who also competed in the men’s individual race earlier in the day, secured third place in that event.
Palacios, who along with Pamintuan and Santos co-manages the Instagram and TikTok account The Clique 670, reflected on the race saying, “After seeing the previous individual races and witnessing some intense reactions, I was a bit apprehensive. But with just one lap each, we pushed ourselves and succeeded.” He humorously advised future participants to “just join for the fun, but don’t drink and run.”
Surprised by their first-place finish, Palacios admitted, “I honestly thought we’d finish in third, but I’ll gladly take first place.” Following their win, the team planned to celebrate with more drinks.
Event organizer Dr. Ron Snyder, representing Run Saipan, expressed gratitude towards MarPac and Michelob Ultra for their continued sponsorship. He also acknowledged Saipan Vegas for their generous raffle prize contributions. Snyder highlighted the partnership with the Saipan Humane Society, noting that the proceeds from the Corporate Relay Division would support their cause.
“The turnout this year was significantly better,” Snyder remarked. “Although we initially limited participation to 40 in the main flights and had nearly reached that number, the Corporate Relay Division was capped at 20 teams. We only had eight teams this year, which was manageable. It was fantastic to see teams running together and cheering each other on. The relay format proved to be an exciting addition to the Beer Mile.”
Lupe Attao from the Saipan Humane Society praised the event’s uniqueness and its positive impact. “It’s really cool and different, something we don’t see often. It’s great to see the community come together year after year. Being the beneficiary of the corporate relay is an awesome experience,” she said, extending thanks to Run Saipan, Snyder, and MarPac for their support.
Overall, the Corporate Relay added a dynamic new element to the Beer Mile, and participants and organizers alike were enthusiastic about its success.
