| Sports |
Athletics in town for Lae showdown
By WENDY KATUSELE
THE Sir Ignatius Kilage
Stadium in Lae is set to record blistering performances when the
national track and field championships starts tomorrow.
With especially elite athletes all on spot to secure final
placings in the national team to the Pacific Games in Apia,
Samoa in August, and interesting results are set to explode.
Sprint sensation Mae Koime, who arrived yesterday from Brisbane
together with Olympic scholarship partner Mowen Boino, believes
this weekend's will be a competitive one especially after elite
athletes have had training stints in Brisbane, Australia.
Although quite onfident of winning her blue ribbon events -
100m, 200m and the 400m - the Kerema lass has not ruled out
strong opposition from rising star Toea Wisil, Port Moresby's
Raphaela Baki and Lae's Vanesa Belei who had also had training
stints in Brisbane and are in sure to be in their peak form.
"It is going to be tough out there as everyone has been training
hard especially this year's calendar has seen athletes given
training programs overseas," Mae said on arrival at the Jackson
International airport.
Mae who has rested over a week due to a mild knee injury, just
to be ready for the national titles will see her first track
assignment starts tomorrow with the 400 metre heats at 5.30pm
with Sharon Henry, Wisil and Cecelia Kumalalamene to give her a
run.
Then the 100 metres semi finals scheduled at 11am on Saturday
with the finals two hours later and the 400m finals to end the
day's competition.
The 4x100m relay will also be the next event to see the Kerema
lass teaming up with her Port Moresby based team mates hoping to
also break the national record.
In the mens the sprints contest should be an interesting one too
with Henry Ben, Anton Lui, Wally Kirika, Peter Pulu and Fabian
Niulai all set for a competitive field.
Champion hurdler Mowen Boino has also shared the same sentiment
adding he is expecting tough competition from young athletes who
have trained so hard.
"This will be a different championships where I will not relax
like the others that I have to just clean sweep because everyone
has trained so hard and everyone wants to be on board the plane
to Samoa," Boino said.
While in the women's competition, national recorder holder Ann
Mooney making a comeback on the tracks.
Mooney also arrived yesterday from Brisbane with Boino, Koime,
Baki, Henry Ben, Sharon Henry and Delilah Kami.
While in the field event should see female jumper Delilah Kami
proving to selectors for her omission in the team.
 
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