chuuk athlete to the World Juniors in Beijing

Maria Ikelap (better known as Epi) from Fefen Island in Chuuk has recently been selected to attend the World Juniors Championships in athletics in Beijing this coming August to represent the Federated States of Micronesia. Epi was initially considered an alternate to Mihter Wendohlin of Pohnpei based on result of the female 100 meter dash finals at the Micronesian Games athletics competition in Saipan this summer. However, the Pohnpei based female sprinter opted to drop the competition, giving the alternate all the right to enter the competition and take up a free trip to China.
For Epi, this will mark the beginning of her debut in high ranking international athletics events. While she will definitely not medal at this event, she will represent her country (and Chuuk) very proudly at the champs just like the others who will feature their home-countries of Oceania at the same event.