PAPUA New Guinea elite track team will leave today for Canberra to compete at the Canberra Track Classic at the Australian Institute of Sport this weekend.
PNG Athletic Union president Tony Green said the elite team had been invited by Athletics Australia to assist the Australian athletes improve their world rankings and thereby enhance their chances of qualifying for the Olympic Games in Beijing.
He said the teams from New Zealand, Fiji and Korea were expected to compete alongside Australia and PNG
“Only the top 16 ranked teams in the world in each relay event will be invited to Beijing” Green said, adding, teams who want to qualify, have to get some fast times on the board.
Green said that the invitation was timely as it gave the PNG athletes the impetus they needed at this time to kick off serious preparations for the 2008 season. The team is Wala Gime, Nelson Stone and Kevin Kapmatana, who will team up with Mowen Boino for the 4x400m relay and the female team of Toea Wisil and Betty Burua will join Ann Mooney and Salome Dell for the women’s 4x400m. Sharon Henry will also travel as a reserve.
The athletes will stay on in Brisbane after this weekend’s meet for a six- week training and competition programme, which includes the Australian National Championships.