Athletes bag five more gold

Papua New Guinea collected five gold medals on the final day of athletics at the Pacific Mini Games in Port Vila, Vanuatu, to take its total to 17 gold for the sport with New Caledonia second with nine and Fiji with seven.
It was a day of mixed emotions for PNG in miserable conditions with the track under water at one stage, which briefly threatened to put some events back to today.
Peniel Richard led the way with a national record of 15.45m in the triple jump to take the gold from Eugene Vollmer of Fiji (15.30).
However, the highlight of the day was a magnificent victory for the PNG men in the 4x400m relay.
Benjamin Aliel ran a solid first leg and handed to Nelson Stone, who though not in his best form held PNG in second in just behind Fiji.
A storming third leg by Mowen Boino closed the gap slightly and a superbly-timed run by Ephraim Lerkin, who struck at the right time, brought home the gold for PNG. Poro Gahekave and Jenny Albert won gold and silver in the 1500m with Martin Orovo again having to settle for silver in the 1500m.
PNG also went one-two in the men’s 200m with another fine run from Nazmie Lee Marai, winning the gold ahead of Theo Piniau. An out of form Toea Wisil was upstaged in the women’s 200m by her former training partner Patty Taea, who ran another Cook Islands national record to continue her recent fine run of form.
Adrine Monagi also claimed gold in the 100m hurdles to add to her heptathlon gold.
Silver medals were won by Sharon Toako with a personal best 44.42m in the javelin, Rellie Kaputin in the high jump and Toea Wisil in the 200m. Afure Adah placed third in the 200m.