Athletics selections complete: Young

A TOTAL of 84 athletes have been selected to undergo training to represent Morobe in athletics at the PNG Games.
Tom Young, the provincial athletics and parasports development officer, told The National that 44 men’s and 44 women’s athletes were selected during the provincial athletics championships that was staged on July 22 and 23.
All nine districts, including secondary and primary schools in Lae, took part in the tournament.
Young said a Morobe development squad consisting of 41 men’s and 19 women’s athletes had also been selected during the trials.
They will be used as substitutes for selected athletes who fail to perform to standard.
He said the development squad would take part in Mamose regional athletics championship from Oct 1-2.
The Morobe trials also resulted in the selection of eight men’s and one women’s parathletes.
Young said former Papua New Guinea representative Allan Akia was nominated as head coach for Team Morobe.
He will be assisted by Simon Mai (assistant coach), Ismael Hakava (team manager), Levi Marum (assistant team manager) and Nick Mayang (assistant team manager).
“Most runners selected are from the districts, secondary schools and senior runners in Lae,” Young said.
“At the moment, we cannot release the names.”
Young said they would monitor the performance of the athletes during training before releasing the final squad to represent Morobe at the 7th PNG Games in Kimbe, West New Britain.