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9-year-old races with help from 'MMA angels'

by Dave Delgado

Guam - The 2010 Guam Ko' Ko' Road Race meant a lot to 9-year-old Zach Criss, who finished the race with one of his best times ever. Zach has been battling serious medical conditions since last year and was only able to walk the 2009 Guam Ko' Ko' Road Race because of his illness.

This time around Zach had the support of MMA fighters Justin "The Shocker" Cruz, Jesse "The Spiderman" Taitano and Micah Tobias. The guys helped Zach cross the finish line last year and vowed to be there by his side when this year's race came around.

Cruz said, "I was really happy for that especially for Zach because this year he got to run, last year he did the race but he walked the 5K. He was pretty upset that he was walking the 5K because he kept looking back seeing if his dad was going to pass him and his sister. When he saw his dad come by he was really upset because he really wanted to beat him last year and this year he actually got the opportunity to run it and he ran it at a really fast paced for a kid his age. I think he runs 24- or 25-minute 5Ks and I think Zach is like 3-feet tall."

Heading into the last leg of the run with Zach waiting for the transition the guys were looking to hopefully finish in the top 3. After the first leg the team was in the top 15 and as the race went on they got closer and closer towards that top spot. With neither runner knowing where they stood as Zach took the sash all they could say to him was make sure no one wearing a red sash passes you and took off at his side for the last leg.

Taitano added, "This last past race was really amazing, I think he said his fastest time was 24 or 25 minutes about I think he ran it at about 23. I was pushing down the hill pretty fast and I was worried I might trip from running so fast down the hill. We were running pretty quick and all we said was, 'Come on, Zach! Let's go! There's a sash behind us.' Justin's looking back, I'm looking back and I'm honored to run with Zach, he's a future champion and champions don't train for one day they train their whole life and he's a good little kid."

God works in mysterious ways and for Zach the blessing came in the form of 3 guys that fight and represent their island all while giving back to the community in any way they can. Zach's angels are Jesse, Justin and Micah offering encouragement and life lessons taught though hard work and dedication to everything you put your mind and heart into.

Zach's father said appreciatively, "These are real guys they have struggles of their own and have their own problems and are not perfect but they work through their problems. They help young people be their best and to get their full potential and they're good role models. For Zach and my daughter Ginina, they really strive to do their best, because they see them doing their best. They know they have a hard time but they're out there doing it especially Jess he really wants to give back to the people of Yona and wants to give them a good place to be and he wants to be a good role model.

There's more to life than MMA and fighting but to do your best and strive to do your best and that's what Zach has learned from those guys that I can do my best even though it's hard keep going and I really appreciate those guys for kicking Zach in the tail and letting him do his best and I would like to encourage other people out there to be role models for younger people and be there for your families and to be there with your kids and that's what I really appreciate about Jess, Justin and Micah they do that."