Mountain runners shine at meet

Weekender
ATHLETICS

By MARTHA DERUAGE
PREENED from the rugged mountains of Chimbu where the climate is cold and the landscape is mostly jagged and rough, 20 athletes from Kundiawa-Gembolg team, representing Chimbu, came determined to compete in the PNG Air National Athletics Championships held from Dec 4 to 6 in Port Moresby.
Without proper gear such as shoes and running tracks to train on, these athletes had been training really hard from 5am to 7am daily and in the afternoon they did circular and full training, short drills with muscle building exercises to build up their stamina the last few months prior to the event.
Some sometimes ran some 5-10km from their village to Kundiawa town then hitched a ride back home on a vehicle.
Straight from the village their stable diet was of kaukau (sweet potato), banana, taro, greens and fruits from the garden.
Their coach and parents made sure the athletes kept fit and stay away from fatty foods and harmful life habits such as chewing betel nut and smoking cigarettes.
Only four among the 20 had experience running the tracks and the rest were inexperienced who left their home for the first time to came to the big city.
Among the athletes came three officials; the head coach and team manager Paul Komba, assistant coach Willie Sugma and the team’s medical doctor John Talu.
Their local MP Willie Onglo, provided about K38,000 for their airfares, transport and accommodation during their three-day stay in Port Moresby.
“Most of these athletes are primary school students who left home for the first time to the big city to compete in such an event,” Komba said.
“Their parents were super proud of them for making such trip but finance had always been a struggle for most families and they couldn’t afford to provide their children with proper sports gear.
“Their parents were able to pay the required fees because they have never been to the city and were very excited to have their children travel down.”
The team arrived last Thursday, a day before the national event.
Komba said the team comprised of athletes only from Kundiawa-Gembogl district, especially the council wards of Mitnande, Guiyer and Waiyer.
“After the provincial athletics championship, we selected these 20 according to the times they ran,” he said.
“For 16 of them, it was their first time to fly on a plane, sleep in a hotel and take part in such events.”
Prior to the event, Komba said he was very pleased with the team and knew they would exceed his expectation.
The youngest in the team were four 13-year-olds while the oldest were 18-years-olds.
Before the event, adjusting to the warm humid climate of Port Moresby was a struggle for many but they took to the track.
Due to lack of proper gear and the humid climate, some took on the track barefoot.
Despite certain setbacks, they did the province proud by bagging some medals after the three-day event before heading home.
In the women’s U16 400m finals, Maria Jack won silver and Cathy Michael won bronze.
In the open men’s 10,000m Dilu Goiye won bronze while Bala Nicholas won bronze in the women’s 1,500m.
One of the youngest in the team 13-year-old Christina Moiyang beat fellow Chimbu long distance runner Jemima Mondo and East New Britain’s Monica Kalua to bag gold in the Under-18 women’s 1,500m final last Sunday.
Moiyang clocked in 19 min 39.7 seconds to finish ahead of Kalua and Mondo
After the race Moiyang said when asked whether she was intimidated to run against the national reps but said: “I knew I was going to win.
The teen was not intimidated at all despite this being her first time to take part in such national event.
The teen has a long way and would now eye the Pacific Games or even the Olympic Games.
Coach Komba was very pleased with the overall performance of the team and said they look forward for the next events.
Their local MP Willie Onglo came to watch them run in the finals last Sunday and was really impressed with the performance that he rewarded the team with additional funds.
The team returned home with 10 medals including five gold, three silver and two bronze.
“I have been the coach for team Chimbu the last 15 years and this is the first time I trained Kundiawa-Gembolg Athletics team to take part in this national event,” Komba said.
“I am very happy with their performance, especially because they had no proper gears and tracks to train with before coming down.
“I would like to thank our MP and families around Port Moresby for their support in making this event a successful and memorable one.
“I also appeal to the government of Chimbu, business houses and individuals to be more supportive by providing proper tracks sfor athletes so they could perform better.
“This performance at this event proved that Chimbu can produce top athletes for the country with proper support.
“Under Athletics PNG president Tony Green, there is a good programme for athletics who could get training and study abroad so that’s why we in Chimbu encourage youths to get involved in athletics.
“This is another pathway to involve youths to be molded and shaped them to have a good healthy lifestyle; to have them avoid bad activities and be productive in the future.”

One thought on “Mountain runners shine at meet

  • Back in High School Days (1996-1999) and Sec 2000-2001 in Yauwe Moses Secondary, Simbu, current Simbu Coach Paul Komba was a fine athlete represented the school, and the province on many competition. One of the Bongi Maki from Chuave a fine distance runner and others like Jerry Spolai (smoke balus) from Karimui. Paul Komba current coach is very talented and experienced coach over the last 15 plus years. He deserve recognition at the sporting fraternity. Having known him (as school mate) I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him prominent roles in the nations sporting industry.

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