Athletics Champs Set To Start

The PNG Air National Track and Field Championships in Kimbe kicks off at 3.30pm on Friday and continues through Saturday and Sunday.

The event will be live streamed this weekend, thanks to support from Oceania Athletic Association.

As expected, participating numbers will be less than normal due to the financial situation affecting most provinces and the interruptions to programmes this year due to COVID-19.

NCD will be represented by 16-member Team Nest and one independent athlete, Salome Yaling. 

Small teams of less than ten are also confirmed from Lae, East New Britain, New Ireland and NSI (Goroka), with Simbu and East Sepik working against time.

In addition, there are approximately 30 national squad athletes and a team of 70 from West New Britain.

President Tony Green thanked PNG Air for their ongoing support as well as Team PNG sponsor, Kumul Consolidated Holdings, whose timely support greatly assisted with the considerable expense of flying the national squad athletes and key technical officials to Hoskins.

“Given the difficulties that provincial teams are facing at this time, it was vital that we facilitated travel for the national athletes to ensure a quality competition,” said Green.

“All of the men’s track events are expected to be very competitive, as will be the middle and long distance events for women.

“The men’s long jump, high jump and javelin will also be keenly contested however, very few participants are expected in the remaining field events.”

Toea Wisil arrived in Kimbe today (Thursday) and will participate in the 100m, 200m and 400m.

With PNG’s other elite sprinters overseas, the Pacific sprint queen will not be seriously challenged but will be using the championships to assess her preparedness for overseas events next year.

The grand prix series last week highlighted some emerging talent in both the men’s and women’s track events, including Patricia Kuku (West New Britain), Salome Yaling, Chabbie Solomon, Terrence Talio, Jonah Theo and Paias Wisil. 

The men’s long distance events will see strong competition in the 5000m and 10000m between Dilu Goiye and Siune Kagl, with Wilford Baia, George Yamak and Abel Siune adding qualify to the 5000m race.

The women’s 1500m and 5000m should also see some good competition with several athletes in contention including Scholastica Herman, Mary Kua, Aina Goir and Ongan Awa.

The men’s 1500m has been the event with the most quality and depth recently, and with some athletes opting for the longer events, this one is likely to see local favourite, Aquila Turalom and Abel Siune, challenging George Yamak for the gold medal.

Author: 
Press Release