Athletics team is the best in 20 years, says coach

THE current Papua New Guinea athletics team at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi is the best for the country in 20 years that coach Lloyd Way has seen.
 “I have been working with PNG athletes for the last 20 years and this is the best team I have seen,” he said after training at the Commonwealth Games Village in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon.
Way said this was because almost all the members of the team had broken or set records for their country or shown very good improvement in their personal best times in recent months.
“We will be up against some of the best athletes in the Commonwealth but we’ll give our best.
“If we do not win any medals, at least we can aim too improve our personal bests,” Way said.
The team will be led by Mowen Boino and Sapolai Yao who are both the oldest and also the most experienced.
This may possibly their last Games too but they have not mentioned anything yet.
They are also joined by Para-sports sprinter and 2008 Paralympic silver medallist, Francis Kompaon whose achievement is also an inspiration.
With the absence of female sprinter, Mae Koime, Toea Wisil and Salome Dell will lead the race for the PNG women.
Way is also pleased with young runner, Vanessa Waro, who has come through well to be in the Commonwealth Games.
She will run in the 4x400m women’s relay and Way is also looking to put her as the finisher for the 4x100m relay.
 Athletics competition begins today at the JN Stadium and will end on Oct 12.