Athletics eyeing quality

ATHLETICS Papua New Guinea’s focus was on quality rather than quantity over the past two days at the Sasi Muthuvel Stadium in Kimbe as the selection trials for the Pacific Games got underway.
APNG said in a statement that the events were of a high standard, with Toea Wisil clocking 11.57 seconds for the 100m in good conditions.
Leonie Beu was second with a personal best of 11.85 seconds.
Beu was in a class of her own in the 400m where she ran another personal best of 55.85 seconds to beat Donna Koniel (57.84) and Isila Akpup.
The men’s 400m heats also produced a series of top performances with Daniel Baul clocking 47.87 seconds as the fastest qualifier in Tuesday’s semifinals.
With National Champion Ephraim Lerkin and Emmanuel Wanga clocking close to 48 seconds, a solid battle was expected in yesterday’s final.
However, it was Shadrick Tansi who proved to be the strongest as Lerkin paid the price for an overly aggressive first 200m to fade badly in the home straight. Central runner Tansi had just enough in the tank to hold off a late surge by Daniel Baul to clock 48.34 seconds.
In the 3000m, Monica Kalua celebrated her 15th birthday in style with a dominant win, clocking 10 minutes, 49 seconds to beat Mary Tenge (11:05).
Abel Siune won the men’s 3000m in nine minutes, 21 seconds after holding off a late challenge from Andipas Georasi .
Beu and Wisil both opted to run the 200m heats yesterday though the race was not really necessary with less than eight runners on the field. The pair will compete in the 200m final today.
Rellie Kaputin showed no signs of being rusty in her first high jump outing for almost a year, clearing 1.65m.
The highlight of today’s programme is expected to be the men’s long jump with national record holder Peniel Richard facing a stiff challenge from Roland Hure, Steven Ray and Cletus Mosi.
Other events today include the 200m, 1500m, heptathlon and the men’s triple jump.