Athletics PNG mourning loss of coach Way

THE news of the sudden passing of coach Lloyd Way came as a shock to Papua New Guinea’s athletics fraternity last week.
“Lloyd was an integral part of the development of a number of our athletes, some of whom went on to represent our country at the highest levels of competition,” Athletics PNG (APNG) president Tony Green said in a statement yesterday.
“They are deeply and sincerely grateful to Lloyd for his motivation, patience and love for what he did and to bring out the best in every one of them.
“He was, in many ways, a father figure to young athletes living away from home.
“Way coached Salome Dell to a level that none of us imagined was possible, taking her from being a raw two minute, 20 second 800m runner in 2005 to an astounding 2:03.71 three years later and then 2:03.53 at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010.”
Green said Way also coached a number of athletes to national records, including Mae Koime, Mowen Boino, Nelson Stone, Toea Wisil and Sapolai Yao.
“He was Wisil’s first coach in Australia and successfully coached many other PNG athletes, including Ann Mooney, Donna Koniel and Betty Burua,” he said.
Green said Way also coached Poro Gahekave, Sharon Kwarula, Wala Gime and Cecilia Kumalalamene before they went to the United States.
Better known at the time for his work with athletes from Fiji, Way coached many successful athletes, including Makelesi Bulikiobo, Jone Delai, Niko Verekauta and Isireli Naikelekelevesi.
“On behalf of its athletes and coaches, APNG conveyed its deepest sympathies to Cheryl and to Lloyd’s four children at this difficult time,” Green said.
“Way will be laid to rest at the Anglican Parish of Keppel in Lammermoor, Queensland, tomorrow (today).”