The National Track and Field Championships will start this Friday at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae, Morobe Province.
Although several teams have yet to formally submit their entries and pay the required fees, Secretary of Athletics PNG (APNG), Philip Rehder confirmed that there has been strong interest from around the country.
“Teams are expected to fly in from Port Moresby, Popondetta, Manus, New Ireland, East Sepik and from both East and West New Britain.
“Large teams are expected from Simbu and Madang plus a good number from Western Highlands and from Enga Province following the staging of a Provincial Championship in Wabag last weekend,” said Rehder.
He added teams are required to pay a team nomination fee of K200 plus the individual athlete entry fees.
Lae will have added firepower in its two emerging athletes Nancy Malamut and Emmanuel Wanga who turned in impressive 400m performances in the final weekly competition before the Championships.
Malamut took a full second off her personal best to break the 60 second barrier in style with a well-judged race in clocking 59.6seconds.
Wanga showed that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the one lap event by clocking 49.4 seconds while Ephraim Lerkin ran 49.15 seconds in Townsville on Saturday.
Peniel Joshua and the cream of the high school talent from East New Britain will also be in the mix.
Sprint Queen, Toea Wisil will arrive in Lae on Thursday. After clocking a seasons best 11.41 seconds last Saturday behind Australia’s fastest woman, Melissa Breen in Townsville, Wisil equalled her best ever time of 11.40 seconds in a second race with Breen the next day.
President of APNG, Tony Green added that the Lae track is known for producing fast times.
“So if the running conditions are favourable, Mae Koime’s national record of 11.37 will be under serious threat this weekend,” said Green.