Distance runners set to compete at Cross Country c’ship

ELEVEN distance runners will be representing Papua New Guinea at the World Cross Country Championship in Bathurst, New South Wales in Australia next weekend (Feb 18), Athletics PNG president Tony Green says.
Green said PNG would field teams in both the open men’s and women’s 10km event as well as the mixed relay.
“We would have liked to have had 14 athletes in total but we lost Wilford Baia, who was in great form at the PNG Air national championships, and the two newcomers that were identified late in 2022 could not complete their travel documents in time,” Green said. Five female athletes Scholastica Herman, Ongan Awa, Mary Tenge, Aina Goir and Mary Kua make up the women’s team while the male representatives are Siune Kagl, Dilu Goiye, Abel Siune, Israel Takap, Aquila Turalom and James Kuadua.
“Mary Kua and Aina Goir will fly into Sydney from the United States on Friday (tomorrow) to allow time to get over jet lag, whereas the other nine team members with coach Philip Kamane will fly in from the Gold Coast next Wednesday,” said Green.
“Gold Coast through its Sports Attract programme as well as Oceania Athletics are assisting Athletics PNG with their final preparations for the championships.”
The nine athletes have been training at Gold Coast since mid-December.
Following the late withdrawal of coach Bernard Manau, head coach Brett Green has been taking the athletes for their key track workouts and providing guidance for their other sessions prior to the arrival of Kamane.
“The opportunity to compete in a world championship is a once in a lifetime occurrence for the vast majority of athletes and this is only the second time the event has ever been held in the Oceania region,” Green said.
“Since this is a World Championship our athletes know we are up against the best in the world.
“The championship is an experience opportunity for our distance runners to observe and learn from the best. We have a much stronger squad of middle and long distance runners as a result of this programme, especially in the men’s division, so we expect to see a better performance in the distance events at the Honiara Games this year than at any full Pacific Games since the 1980s.”