Annual event gets athletes together

The third annual athletics event in Kairuku district, Central, last weekend brought together more than 4000 participants and spectators.
This included 14 primary schools.
The event was held at the Mainohana Catholic Secondary School.
This annual event started in 2014 to bridge athletics in the rural areas.
Organisers of last weekend’s meeting and past events have identified many potential athletes in the area that need to be recognised and developed.
This initiative has seen a lot of success in athletics so far.
Central provincial athletics official and Kwikila Secondary School teacher Francis Mane said it was encouraging to see gender equity promoted through sports in the very strong Mekeo and Roro cultural setting.
Moreover, youths are now more focused and avoid anti-social behaviour, he added.
Mane, who now teaches at Kwikila Secondary School  in Rigo district started the annual athletics competition when he was at Mainohana Secondary School.
Awabadina Primary School won the cup in this year’s event after showing some class in both field and track events through their commitment and discipline, Mane said.
The second runner up was Isiu Primary School.
Kairuku district community development officer Bernard Guy presented the cup to the champion school and said the district should fund the event in future.
Selected athletes for Kairuku primary schools will join others in Central in two months of training for the September Southern regional championships in Port Moresby.
It is considered that through these games, the team Central will be selected for the upcoming PNG Games in East New Britain.
Potential athletes were urged to attend all games for selection.