C’ships highlight areas to improve before Pacific Games

Sports

LAST week’s Oceania Athletics Championships highlighted areas of improvement that need to be addressed before the national athletics team head to the Pacific Games, according to Athletics Papua New Guinea (APNG).
Outstanding performers were Rellie Kaputin and Peniel Richard (long and triple jumps), Daniel Baul and Donna Koniel (400m hurdles), Siune Kagl and James Kuadua (10000m), Simbai Kaspar and Mary Tenge (3000m steeplechase), Lakona Gerega (javelin), Jacklyne Travertz (hammer throw) and Steven Abraham (para-sprints) .
Young Monica Korowi, from Port Moresby, also did very well in the Under-18 sprints, winning two bronze medals.
Whilst the highlight was undoubtedly Kaputin’s stunning 6.50m last effort to snatch the long jump gold from world No.5 Brooke Stratton, there were also national records for Gerega (64.89m) and Travertz (47.90m).
For Travertz, this was a massive improvement on her own national record of 41.22m and was a fitting reward for six months of dedicated training with coach Paul Bannister in Allora, Queensland.
“Whilst the 4x400m relay squads are in good shape, especially the men’s, we have a lot of work to do in the short sprints,” APNG president Tony Green said in a statement.
“No PNG athlete made the final in the 100m. Only Daniel and Emmanuel (Wanga) advanced to the 200m final. “With Fiji’s Banuve Tabacaucoro and Samoa’s Jeremy Dodson expected to feature at the Games, the best hope for our short sprinters is the 4x100m relay. Toea Wisil was pipped at the line by New Zealander Georgie Hulls in the 100m and had to settle for fourth place, with Fiji’s Heleina Young in fifth.”
Green said the men’s middle and long distance squad were expected to challenge for medals in all the events from 800m upwards.
“Poro Gahekave will spearhead PNG’s challenge in the women’s middle and long distance events, with young Mary Tengeh showing the potential to do well in the steeplechase with her personal best time of 11 minutes and 43 seconds in Townsville,” he said.
“Daniel’s time of 52.07s in the heats was a huge personal best and he is also proving to be one of the best 200m runners in the team, finishing fifth overall from a field of 28.
“Benjamin Aliel, who ran an outstanding last leg in the 4x400m relay, is pressing for the chancey to show what he can do in the 200m.”