Athletics name team for regionals

ATHLETICS Papua New Guinea has announced the first round of selections for its team for the Melanesian Championships in Fiji in July.
APNG secretary Phillip Rehder said that the aim was to send a strong team of home-based and top junior athletes.
“We need to provide some incentives and motivation for those athletes who did well at the Pacific Games and have been in training for six months or more,” Rehder said.
“We have some good junior athletes based overseas like Miriam Peni and Afure Adah, who are an important part of our squad for the future and these championships are an opportunity for these athletes to spend time with the team.”
Rehder said APNG wanted to advice athletes now of their selection so they could start planning their travel.
He said more athletes would be added to the team following the national championships.
“Funding is a consideration due to the difficult economic climate so we will not be selecting many development athletes. Only the very best are being considered.”
Rehder stressed the importance of competition results being submitted to Athletics PNG.
Monica Henao has been appointed team manager and an announcement would be made soon regarding coaches. The Melanesian Championships was first held in Fiji in 2001 followed by Lae in 2003 and 2005 before the Oceania Athletics Association changed its competition structure and abandoned the concept.
The competition being re-introduced this year will include athletes from Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Norfolk Island, regional Australia, Tuvalu, New Caledonia and Kiribati.
PNG athletes: Sprints and hurdles: Nazmie Lee Marai, Ephraim Lerkin, Wesley Logorava Peniel Joshua, Mowen Boino, Charles Livuan, Toea Wisil, Miriam Peni, Afure Adah, Donna Koniel; middle/ long-distance: George Yamak, Mary Kua, Jenny Albert; jumps/throws: Steven Ray, Robson Yinambe, Annie Topal, Debono Paraka, Jacklyn Travertz.