Jumping for glory

 RELLIE Kaputin broke the 16-year-old Papua New Guinea national high jump record, claiming a gold medal as the country dominated track and field yesterday.

Compatriots Naomi Kerari and Delilah Kami took silver and bronze for a clean sweep at the Sir John Guise Stadium.

Kaputin, who has been training in the United States, leapt 1.77m. Kerari and Kami jumped 1.67m and 1.64m respectively.

This is Kaputin’s third national record. She  is the national record holder in the triple and long jumps as well. “This is my third time that I broke the national record and I really looked forward to breaking this high jump record and I did it today and it is really a good experience for me,” the delighted Kaputin said.

“I am doing the triple jump on Thursday and I am doing long jump on Friday, and yes I am looking forward to breaking a record again.

“I just got back from the United States where I got a two-year scholarship and I have got a full scholarship to university so I am going back to continue for another two years again.

“I am looking forward to performing in front of the people on home ground and it gives me the courage and the motivation to do better.” 

In other field events yesterday, Fiji’s Eugene Vollmer registered 15.27m to get the men’s triple jump gold, beating Papua New Guinea’s Peniel Richard (15.22m) and New Caledonia’s Frederic Erin (14.97m).

In the women’s hammer, New Caledonia’s Elise Takosi threw 52.51m, ahead of Norfolk Island’s Brianna Stephens (42.77m) and Samoa’s Kasandra Vegas (41.99m) to get gold.