Kaputin sets 2nd record

Rellie Kaputin set her second Pacific Mini Games record yesterday, winning the triple jump with 13.26m which was just 2cm outside her national record.
Annie Topal collected the bronze in the event with a personal best of 12.22m. PNG athletics added three more gold at the Games with one day to go.
Adrine Monagi was not challenged in the heptathlon and ran out a comfortable winner with 4837 points.
Poro Gahekave led a second trifecta as PNG swept the medals in the 3000m steeplechase with Esther Boram second and Tuna Tine third.
Benjamin Aliel won the men’s 400m race in 48.01sec from Bradly Toa of Vanuatu and Ephraim Lerkin was third.
It was another superbly timed effort from Aliel, a newcomer to the national team who has displayed great maturity in his races.
However, PNG had to play second fiddle to Fiji in both 4x100m races with the men losing out by a fraction of a second.
The women’s race was not so close and PNG narrowly avoided disqualification by not running their athletes in the declared order.
In the end the judges accepted that an administrative mix up contributed to the situation and allowed the result to stand.
Bronze medals were also collected by Debono Paraka in the hammer throw, Simbai Kaspar in the steeplechase and Nancy Malamut with a significant personal best 58.24seconds in the 400m. Athletics PNG set itself a target of 18 to 22 gold medals for the Pacific Mini Games and with at least nine events on the final day. PNG will be fighting for gold and the prospect of reaching the target of 18 by collecting six seems realistic.
Today promises to be a very exciting day, according to Athletics PNG president Tony Green, with all six PNG athletes through to the 200m finals, Rellie Kaputin in the high jump, Peniel Richard in the triple jump, Poro Gahekave in her favourite 1500m event, and both 4×400 relays.
Adrine Monagi starts as a strong favourite in the women’s 100m hurdles and Mowen Boino will carry the flag for PNG in the men’s 110m hurdles.