Paraka sets record
The National, Monday April 20th, 2015
DEBONO Paraka broke his own national record in the men’s discus throw on Saturday at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium during the National Track and Field Championships.
His throw of 49.01-metres was an improvement of 75cm on the record of 48.24cm that he set in Port Moresby last year.
Other highlights of the championships were some great performances in both the men’s and women’s steeplechase, the women’s 1500m and 5000m and exciting finishes in the men’s and women’s 800m.
A highly competitive women’s 5000m on Friday evening produced some great times, with Rama Kumilgo winning in 18min 31 secs from Miriam Goiye (18:39) and Ongan Awa ( 18min 58).
Goiye continued her great form on Saturday by edging out Jenny Albert in the 1500m with another top performance of 4min 50 seconds from Albert ( 4:52) and Rama Kumilgo (4:53).
Veteran Sapolai Yao was in great form in the men’s steeplechase, winning in 9min 35seconds from Skene Kiage, who ran a personal best 9min 42.
The women’s 3000m steeplechase saw a surprise winner in Carolyn Mondo from Simbu, who surged past pre-race favourite Kumilgo in the closing stages of the race.
Both girls ran great times with Mondo going to second place on the all time best performance list with her 11min 52 seconds and Kumilgo third on the list with her 11:54.
Only national record holder Poro Gahekave has run a faster time in this event
In other field events, Peniel Richard finally cleared the magic 2.0 metre barrier in the men’s high jump after threatening to do so since the PNG Games last year.
Local boy Steven Ray impressed in the men’s long jump by winning the event over more favoured national athletes.
Seveteen-year-old Ephraim Lerkin of New Ireland turned heads in the men’s 400m hurdles by placing second behind Mowen Boino in 54.29 secs ahead of older and more experienced athletes. Jane Pulu impressed in the women’s throws, with a personal best 39.30metres to win the javelin competition despite being hampered by a groin injury, and winning the shot put the previous day with 10.74m. Helen Philemon had an outstanding day on Saturday in the heptathlon.