Baru breaks Oceania record

Morea Baru broke the Oceania region’s 26 year old record in the Snatch, setting a new record in the category during the men’s 62kg division competition today in Port Vila.

A fired up Baru cleared 129kg, two kilograms more than the old record which was held by Marcus Stephen since 1991.

Baru also won the Clean & Jerk category with a lift of 120kg which was his total after dropping his  two attempts. Baru’s total of 249kg also gave him the gold in the overall tally.

The win sets Baru in good stead in his preparation for the Commonwealth Games in 2018 which he has been working hard towards.

Now that he has broken the Oceania record his hard work has paid off and Baru looks forward now to the Commonwealth Games where he hopes to make PNG proud again.

Baru’s three gold medals adds to Dika and Thelma Toua’s six gold medals won earlier on Tuesday bringing PNG’s total after the first day of weightlifting competition to nine.

Former record holder, Marcus Stephen from Nauru, is now the President of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation.

Stephen present yesterday watched Baru shatter his 26 year standing record in the snatch, as he was ceremoniously acknowledged by the crowd and the tournament organisers.

 

 

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Sophie Yaruso