Athletes try out different events

Reports by ISAAC LIRI
LAST Weekend’s national championships saw some athletes try out events outside their strengths.
Oceania Athletics life member Bob Snow, who was in the country to watch the championships, praised two athletes who tried out events they had never done.
Snow, 73, commended 20-year-old Jenny Albert, a runner in the 1500m and 800m, after she tried out the 400m for the first time.
Ephraim Lerkin, who is a regular 400m hurdler, tried out the 800m for the first time.
Lerkin clocked 1:56.12 to finish first in his race.
“It’s great to see these athletes try out different events,” Snow said.
“We’ve never seen this before.
“They’ve actually realised that trying out different events will help them compete in their regular events.
“Ephraim ran in the 800m and it’ll help him with his stamina when he goes back to the 400m hurdles.”
Lerkin told The National that after competing at the Commonwealth Games in April, he realised that he needed to work on his endurance in the 800m to improve in the 400m hurdles.
“The Pacific Games (in Samoa)is just around the corner and I need to work on my endurance to run the 400m hurdles,” Lerkin, 20, said.
“At the Mini Pacific Games in Vanuatu last year, I ran the 400m hurdles alongside Mowen Boino and he beat me, so running the 800m in the nationals will help me.”
Albert said it was very challenging running the 400m event for the first time in her career.
“It was hard running the 400m on Saturday,” the Chimbu lass said.
“I am looking forward to next year’s Pacific Games.
“That’s why I am giving my best at the national championships.
“I was training hard at the National Sports Institute (NSI) in Goroka and I think I can make the squad for Team PNG next year.
“I have been training at NSI since last year to prepare for the nationals, so I think I’m just going to keep training at NSI until next year.”