Success at Victorian swimming champs

January saw three of the five swimmers endorsed by the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) for the Commonwealth Games team travel to Melbourne for the Victorian State Championships.

The annual event, held from the 12th to the 14th of January at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC), saw some of Australia's best swimmers race in preparation for the Commonwealth Games trials being held at the end of February.

The swimmers swam extremely well in tough Melbourne conditions. Led by the experienced Ashley Seeto, who marginally missed swimming the B Final of the 50 breaststroke by 0.01, Leonard Kalate recorded personal bests in his 50 breaststroke and 50 freestyle and Josh Tarere also produced two personal bests in his 100 freestyle and 50 butterfly.

The competition was a great lead up event for the Commonwealth Games, especially for Tarere making his international debut.

Post competition, Kalate and Tarere trained in Brisbane for two weeks with Yeronga Park, coached by selected coach for the Commonwealth Games Rob Van der Zant.

Kalate and Tarere have now returned home to Lae and back into full training in hopes of competing in April on the Gold Coast in the pool events at the Commonwealth Games.

Seeto has resumed training at the Gold Coast and will join Sam Seghers and Ryan Maskelyne in competing at the Australian Commonwealth Games trials at the end of February.

The final preparation meet for the five swimmers will be at the Theodist PNG National Championships, being held from the 16th to 18th March at the Taurama Indoor and Aquatic Centre in Port Moresby.

Don’t miss out on your chance to see these swimmers and the rest of Papua New Guinea's elite swimmers battle it out.

Author: 
Press release