Championships’ date set

ATHLETICS Papua New Guinea (APNG) has confirmed that the PNG Air Highlands-Mamose Championships will go ahead at the National Sports Institute (NSI) in Goroka from Sept 12-13.
This follows the approval granted by the PNG Sports Foundation’s pandemic management committee to athletics to resume its training and competition programmes under Covid-19 protocols.
The event had been scheduled for Aug 29 and 30, however, the decision was made on Aug 21 to defer the event by two weeks to complete the approval process and ensure that the necessary organisational arrangements were in place.
In a statement yesterday, APNG president Tony Green urged participating teams to familiarise themselves with the protocols, which have been distributed to team leaders, and to comply them during the event.
This will include face masks for all athletes and officials which must be provided by teams. In line with the current situation, large teams are discouraged and Green urged them to select only their best athletes.
“Only authorised entrants will be permitted access to the venue and no entries will be accepted on the day of the event,” he said.
“It is compulsory for teams to send a delegate to the technical meeting at 6pm on Sept 11 to finalise entries and collect bib numbers.
“Visiting teams are expected from Chimbu, Lae, Bulolo and Wewak.”
Green said a small NSI development squad would also participate and were expected to be competitive in the sprint events.
“There will be a reduced number of field events, with no high or triple jump and no hurdles races,” he said.
“Events will as usual be conducted in the open and Under-18 divisions, with sprint events only in the U16 category.”