Gulf athletes improve performances at meets

By ISAAC LIRI
GULF athletes who achieved personal bests at last week’s Southern athletics championships in Port Moresby are a success story, according to provincial athletics coach Lily Tua.
After coaching the team at the national championships last month, Tua worked to ensure her athletes were in good form heading into the two-day tournament, which started last Monday at the Sir John Guise Stadium.
“Most of our athletes improved their personal bests from the national champs last month and that’s great news for us,” Tua said
“Some of the credit should be given to Australian coach Luke Donatini, who helped us with some techniques after the national championships. “Josephine Maiape, who won bronze in the sprints at the nationals, did extremely well in the track events at the Southern championships,” Tua said.
“She ran 14.69sec in the 100m, bettering the 15.44sec she ran at the national championships.
“She ran 25.04sec in the 200m — a huge improvement from the 32.48sec she clocked at the national championships.
“She’s 19, she’s a raw talent and she has potential.” Tua also spoke highly of Louis Haiveta, who ran 51.41sec in the 400m hurdles to better the 53.26sec he clocked at the national championships.
Another highlight for Gulf was 100m sprinter Benjamin Torika, who ran 11.53sec in the heats, 11.25sec in the final and 11.83sec at the national championships.
Gulf, Central and the National Capital District were the only provincial teams competing at the national championships.
The other five teams that competed were the Southern Stars, Crusaders, Kokofa, Hiri and Team Central Secondary Schools.
Tua acknowledged the Gulf Provincial Sports Trust, under chief executive Lawrence Lahari, for making funds available to ensure the province’s participation at the championships.