Kamau starts training in Concordia, Kansas

UPCOMING Papua New Guinea athlete Leroy Kamau resumed training on Sunday after arriving in the United States (US) for athletic meets.
The sprinter, who is based in Concordia, Kansas, told The National yesterday that he had been training under his coach and former Pacific Games 200m champion Nelson Stone in Port Moresby before leaving for the US.
Kamau said his first competition was next week.
“I started training two days ago here in Concordia,” he said.
“I’m having a hard time adapting to the cold weather but I’m hoping I’ll get used to it soon.”
Kamau will be based in the US for the next two months to compete in regular competitions with the hope of setting a new PNG record and impressing national selectors.
Meanwhile, Athletics PNG president Tony Green said: “To qualify for the Olympics, you have to run the qualifying time and you can do that in any competition which is sanctioned by World Athletics or by the national body in that country.
“So if it’s a US track and field-sanctioned competition then performances are recognised.
“Qualifying times for the Olympics are set very high and in the men’s sprints the times are way above even our national records.”
Kamau recorded the best time in the 200m heats in last year’s West New Britain athletics championships and dominated the national championships in December.
“Leroy (Kamau) clocked a time of 21.15 seconds in the heats of the men’s 200m,” Green said.
“This was the fastest 200m recorded in the country by a Papua New Guinean.”