Yao wins in record time

LONG distance runner Sapolai Yao has smashed the PNG record in the half marathon event at the Samsung Melbourne Marathon on Sunday.
Though the Simbu man finished 13th in the field of over 4,500 runners, Yao set a new record of 1hr, 11 minutes and 21 seconds smashing the old record set by David Kanie in a time of 1hr, 12 minutes, 43 seconds.
The previous record was set at the 2000 Oceania championships in Adelaide.
PNG Athletic Union president Tony Green said Yao became something of a celebrity at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne last year with his exploits in the 5000m and steeplechase events.
He said Yao was invited by sponsor, Samsung under its Oceania Sports Development Initiative to compete at the Melbourne Marathon.
The programme is a partnership between Samsung and the Oceania Foundation and seeks to identify athletes with potential and assist them to achieve their goal of competing on the international stage.
Green said uder this programme Samsung invited Yao to Melbourne to compete in the half marathon event and covered all of his expenses, including airfares, accommodation and meals.

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