The Papua New Guinean Athletics team is revving up preparations for the Rio games qualifiers, as it braces for a higher level of competition.
In Athletics seven athletes are undergoing intensive training overseas to reach the qualifying standards.
For the women Toea Wisil for the 100m sprint, Donna Koniel 400m Hurdles, Betty Burua 400m Hurdles are based in Gold Coast, while Sharon Kwarula who will run the 100m Hurdles is currently based at West Texas College in the United States undergoing training as well.
For the men, Mowen Boino, the three time PNG Olympian is working to qualify for the 400m Hurdles in Vanuatu and Fiji as Nelson Stone who will run 400m is in training in Brisbane, Australia and Theo Piniau is also with Sharon in West Texas.
Similar to swimming the athletics team also has a qualifying standard of time for each event.
However, if they don’t reach the required standard than the top male athlete and the female athlete who can qualify in the Olympics will qualify to take part in the universality places for Rio.
Athletics entry standards for Rio 2016 Olympic games are;
WOMEN EVENT MEN
11.32 sec 100m 10.16 sec
23.20 sec 200m 20.50 sec
52.20 sec 400m 45.40 sec
2:01.50 min 800m 1:46.00 min
4:07.00 min 1500m 3:36.20 min
15:24.00 min 5000m 13:25.00 min
32:15.00 min 10,000m 28:00.00 min
13.00 sec 100m Hurdles/110m Hurdles 13.47 sec
56.20 sec 400m Hurdles 49.40 sec