Pair retain titles in crossfit event at Hula

EMMANUEL Walo and Philma Leva retained their titles in the 2024 ThrowDown in Vula’a CrossFit event that took place over the weekend in Hula, Central.
This is Walo’s fourth consecutive title and Leva’s third in a row.
The annual games saw another successful year, showcasing the athletic prowess of the local community and attracting participants from near and far.
This year’s event witnessed a notable increase in participation, with 40 men and four women taking part in the various athletic challenges, demonstrating an improvement from the previous year.
While the number of female participants saw a slight decrease, the enthusiasm and competitive spirit remained high among all attendees.
The five challenging events – swim, squat, run, crab crawl, and sandbag pull, followed by a final round of sandbag cleans and a wheelbarrow push – tested the physical prowess and endurance of participants.
Each event was carefully crafted to mimic daily village chores, adding a unique and authentic element to the competition on the weekend.
The 2024 men’s finalists were Emmanuel Walo, Noah Noah and Antony Riley while the women’s were Philma Leva, Isabella Aunama and Judith Adrian.
The top three performers in each category were awarded new wheelbarrows.
The event managed to attract interest not only from local residents but also from neighboring villages. Additionally, the participation of Antony Riley, an expatriate who volunteered at TIV2023, underscored the event’s growing reputation and appeal beyond the local community. Plans have started to host a similar crossfit event in Port Moresby in August later this year.