Attendance at triathlon champs impresses federation

THE Papua New Guinea Triathlon Association was overwhelmed with the attendance of 40 athletes from clubs that attended their national championship held last week in Port Moresby.
Triathlon PNG’s Stephen Damien said the athletes from clubs in Port Moresby, New Ireland, Lae and East Sepik competed. More than half the athletes were under 18-years-old, with the age range from nine years to 60-plus.
This was the first time the federation had attracted a great number of clubs from around the country.
Last year’s Pacific Games was one of the main pull factors for the growth in interest for juniors in the sport as well as a restructure in the federation’s organisational chart.
Having elite athletes competing on the international stage was another drawcard.
He said Port Moresby alone had four clubs – Gordon’s Tri Juniors, Rising Stars, MSS Tri Club, PNG TTO and SCRAM.
East Sepik had Sepik Iron Man, SIM Development Club and the East Sepik Triathlon Association.
Morobe had one representative from Lae’s Paddle Power and New Ireland had the New Ireland Triathlon Academy and the Lihir Triathlon Club.
There was a club from Manus.
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville had a club affiliated with the PNG Triathlon Association but were not able to attend the championships.
Damien commended participants, clubs, volunteers, technical officials and the spectators for contributing to a successful race.
Meanwhile, the PNG Triathlon elected new executives on the same weekend.
The federation’s new president is Andrew Olsen.
Gilbert Sarry of Wewak was elected vice-president while Chris Hagen was voted treasurer and Elsie Mantu secretary.