Athletics names Games squad

ATHLETICS PNG yesterday named a 48-strong team for the Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa including eight athletes who will be defending their gold medals from Port Moresby 2015.
The names of the 17 females, 28 males and three para athletes have been released following deliberations by the justification committee of the PNG Olympic Committee on both the nominations by Athletics PNG and after considering appeals.
The defending gold medallists from 2015 are Toea Wisil, Rellie Kaputin, Donna Koniel, Adrine Monagi, Mowen Boino, Kaminiel Matlaun, Peniel Richard and Sapolai Yao are back in the team.
There is just one matter pending clarification from the justification committee, concerning an additional athlete for the women’s 4 x 100m relay squad.
In releasing the names, team manager Nola Peni thanked the National Sports Institute as well as sponsors Prima Smallgoods and Trukai for their support with the ongoing training programme as well as the PNG Olympic Committee for meeting much of the travel costs including those for selection trials in Kimbe and the team to Bangkok.
Australia and New Zealand are competition in athletics for the first time and have been invited to nominate athletes in certain events only.
Those are the events which traditionally have seen few competitors such as some of the women’s field events and longer distance races.
“What we do know is that New Zealand have selected only five athletes and latest indications are that Australia may have less than 10 athletes.”
Many of the sprint squad together with men’s middle distance runners were in Bangkok last weekend for the Thailand Open championships.
Field event athletes will leave Port Moresby shortly to spend a few weeks with coaches Phillip Newton and Brett Green on the Gold Coast in the lead up to the Games as the technical coaching is very important for them at this time.
“Athletics PNG plans to have the full team attend the Oceania Championships in Townsville at the end of next month before they head to Samoa,” Green said.
Green added that they were not sure whether there would be any further funds available to sports for preparations.
PNG athletics squad: Sprints and Relays – (Men) Michael Penny, Linus Kuravi, Thoa Ora, Manoka John, Terrence Talio, Nazmie Lee Marai, Theo Piniau, Emmanuel Wanga, Benjamin Aliel, Shadrick Tansi, Ephraim Lerkin, (Women) Toea Wisil, Leonie Beu, Adrine Monagi, Rellie Kaputin, Annie Topal, Donna Koniel, Isilia Apkup, Edna Erick; Middle and Long distance – (Men) George Yamak, Kaminiel Matlaun, Martin Orovo, Andipas Georasi, Siune Kagl, Sapolai Yao, Messach Fred, Simbai Kaspar, James Kuadua, (Women) Poro Gahekave, Jenny Albert, Donna Koniel, Lyanne Tibu, Mary Tenge, Monica Kalua; Hurdles – (Men) Cletus Mosi, Daniel Baul, Ephraim Lerkin, Mowen Boino, (Women) Adrine Monagi, Donna Koniel, Raylyne Kanam; Jumps and throws – (Men) Roland Hure, Eldon Toti, Peniel Richard, Cletus Mosi, Karo Iga, Debono Paraka, Lakona Gerega, (Women) Rellie Kaputin, Annie Topal, Sharon Toako, Jacqueline Travertz; Para – male athletes – Steven Abraham (100m T46), Elias Larry (100m T47), Morea Mararos (Shot Put F34).