Athletics bags five more gold

TEAM Papua New Guinea added five more gold to maintain their position atop the medal tally of the Pacific Mini Games in Saipan, Northern Marianas, yesterday.
Dilu Goiye (10,000m), De’bono Paraka (men’s discus), Steven Abraham (ambulant 100m), Toea Wisil (women’s 100m) and Scholastica Herman (women’s 800m) prevailed in their events.
Other results saw the national women’s va’a team winning silver and bronze in the V6 1,500m and V6 500m respectively at 13 Fishermen Memorial Monument Beach.
Team PNG dominated the women’s 100m final with Wisil (11.98 seconds), Isila Apkup (12.07s) and Leonie Beu (12.13s) securing podium finishes.
Goiye delivered a masterstroke, hanging behind silver medallist Siune Kagl – who led for most of the 10,000m – before picking up speed late to snatch gold at Oleai Sports Complex.
Richard Penniel and Roland Hure claimed silver and bronze respectively in the long jump while Sharon Toako won silver in the women’s javelin (600g).
Meanwhile, Team PNG tennis players Matthew Stubbings and Abigail Tere-Apisah opened their singles campaign with a win each yesterday. Stubbings won 6-4, 6-1 against New Caledonia while Abigail beat Vanuatu’s Lorraine Banimataku 6-1, 6-2 at the American Memorial Park.
Men’s head coach Mark Lewis said the results so far were good with Apisah trio of sisters Patricia and Violet and aunt Abigail winning Team PNG’s first gold of the Games.
“Unlucky for Eddie and Patricia who got knocked out in their mixed doubles match,” he said.
“But we’ve won everything since and everyone is competing to the best of their abilities.”
Women’s team manager Marcia Tere-Apisah said she was confident that Team PNG would win more medals during their Mini Games campaign.
Golf team manager Rozalyn Taufa said they were upbeat with the tee-off set for this morning at the Coral Ocean Resort Golf Course and were anticipating a strong finish.