Duo take on world

 TOEA Wisil and Mowen Boino head to Moscow on Sunday for the Athletics World Championship from Aug 10-18. 

The pair qualified for the championship by winning their respective events at the Oceania Championship in Papeete, Tahiti, in June.  

Vanuatu-based Boino produced an outstanding performance of 51.97 seconds to win the 400m hurdles event, his first race since July, 2012, when he was in the United Kingdom in the build-up to the London Olympics. 

Since winning the Australian 100m title in April, Wisil has been training in Brisbane but with the Australian season over and most of the top athletes in Europe there has not been much good competition. 

Following the World Championships, Wisil will return to Brisbane, where she is based, to continue her preparations for the Pacific Mini Games, while Boino will return to Port Moresby for his final preparations.

Athletics PNG has named a final team of 22 male and 16 female athletes to the Pacific Mini Games in Wallis and Futuna. 

The track and field athletics competition will be held from Sept 3-6.

The team is a blend of experienced and younger athletes being developed for the 2015 Pacific Games and includes 22 athletes who competed at the 2011 Games in Noumea and nine from the 2007 Games.

The Pacific Mini Games medal hunt will be spearheaded by Wisil, Boino, Betty Burua and Nelson Stone who were all gold medallists in Noumea.  

Apart from the established elite athletes there are four female and five male athletes selected to represent their country for the first time. 

The girls are Rellie Kaputin and Annie Topal from East New Britain for the jumps and for the  long distance events Monica Miugle and Maryanna Peter from Simbu. 

First timers in the men’s team are Kaminiel Matlaun (East New Britain)  for the 400m and 800m;  Manuai Kenas (National Capital District)  and Raymond Koniel (New Ireland) for the 400m hurdles; Ben Levi  from Wabag for the jumps and Solomon Susame (Wewak) as reserve for the mens 4x100m relay team.

Kaminiel Matlaun, 17, from  Navunaram, East New Britain, a Grade 10 student at Utmei Secondary School, ENB, won the open men’s 400m and 800m races at the Milo-sponsored national championships in Kokopo last month,beating more well known athletes such as Kevin Kapmatana and Theo Piniau in the process. 

The 400m was a very close race with Matlaun just getting to the line in 49.23 seconds ahead of Kapmatana (49.42) and  Piniau (49.47). 

The 800m was also a good race with Matlaun winning in 1min 59.05 seconds  ahead of Freddie Hongoworie of NCD and Veherney Babob, the current national junior record holder for 1500m.

Athletics PNG President Tony Green said this would be the largest PNG Athletic team ever to attend an international event, surpassing the 33-member team that attended the 1993 Mini Games in Vanuatu. 

“We have done our best to prepare the athletes in difficult circumstances,” said Green indicating that more resources need to be pumped into the sport if PNG are going to meet the high expectations for 2015.

Team officials will be Sophia Marai as manageress,   John Baining as head coach. 

Baining will be assisted by Subul Babo (sprints), Bernard Manau (men’s distance), Paul Komba  (women’s distance) and Sandy Katusele (jumps).

Athletics team: Men – Nelson Stone (pictured left), Kupun Wisil, Solomon Susame, Joe Matmat, Theo Piniau, Paul Pokana, Mowen Boino, Wala Gime, Freddie Hongoworie, Kevin Kapmatana, Raymond Koniel, Kaminiel Matlaun, Manuai Kenas, Veherney Babob, Andipas Georasi, David Georasi, Sapolai Yao, Skene Kiage, Simbai Kaspar, Mong Tavol, David Jessem, Ben Levi; Women – Toea Wisil, Betty Burua (pictured right), Venessa Waro, Donna Koniel, Adrine Monagi, Helen Philemon, Sharon Kwarula, Shirley Vunatup, Jenny Albert, Tuna Tine, Poro Gahekave, Monica Miugle, Maryanna Peter, Rellie Kaputin, Annie Topal, Eunice Steven.