Kwikila sprint champion aiming high in atheltics

By SULI SULI
KWIKILA Secondary School’s Emmanuel Mamei won the sprint double (200m and 100m finals) at the recent Central Inter-School Carnival with times of 23.69 and 11.38 seconds respectively.
The 21-year-old said he hoped to get proper training and coaching to realise his dream of one day representing the country.
“My dream is to become one of the best runners in Papua New Guinea,” Mamei told The National at the conclusion of athletics competition.
“I’m still studying but I also want to pursue my dream to become a professional athlete,” the man from Mekeo, Central, said.
“This is where I want to start and build from here. I’m looking forward to the PNG Games in November as well as the national athletics championships.”
Mamei was among a field of raw talents who recently took part in the Central schools competition at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby.
Mamei proved he was someone to watch after finishing first in the heats of both races.
He also picked up another gold medal when helping his school win gold in the men’s 4x100m relay.
Mamei said he enjoyed meeting runners from other schools and competing with the best young talent from the region.
He said that he had started competing in school events as a 13-year-old. He attended the 2015 national athletics championships in 2015. In 2018, he competed against current PNG representative Shadrick Tansi, who coincidentally was one of the organisers of the Central schools event.
“I attended the national athletics championships in 2015 and competed in Under-15 and U16 divisions,” Mamei said when recalling the events he attended while in primary school.
“In 2019, I competed against Tansi in the 100m and 200m sprint when I was studying in Mainohana Secondary School.
“He made it to the Pacific Games and now he is someone I look to as a role model.
“I’ve challenged myself that If Tansi can do it, I can do it too.”
Kwikila Secondary School assistant sports coordinator Lalema Ligo supported Mamei and said the school would do its part to guide its young athletes to pursue their dreams and fulfill their potential.
“We’re trying our best to market their talents,” Ligo said.
“As a teacher it’s my dream to see my students excel in life.
“So we believe that some students are good in classroom and some are good in other areas like the track and carnivals like this are the platform where we showcase them.”
Meanwhile, inter-school athletics coordinator Nick Maino confirmed that Kwikila would attend the national athletics championships which was scheduled at the end of the year.