Race for spot intensifies

ATHLETICS PNG president Tony Green says competition for the single place available to athletics at the Paris Olympics is gaining intensity with sprinter Leonie Beu setting a new personal best over the weekend.
Beu, a specialist in the 200m and 400m, ran 11.68seconds in the 100m in Nashville Tennessee on Saturday.
Adrine Monagi has also been in fine form recently, setting a new national record in the 100m hurdles. Under the universality places (wildcard invitation), Athletics PNG will nominate an athlete to compete in Paris in the sprint or marathon.
“Qualification standards in athletics are incredibly high, and unless one of our athletes can somehow raise their performance level significantly, then PNG can only nominate an athlete for the 100m event,” Green said.
“This is due to new qualification rules in athletics which only allow countries with no qualified athletes to nominate for the 100m or the marathon. For both Monagi and Beu, the 100m is not their main event but under Athletics PNG selection policy, the selectors will consider their performances in both the 100m and in their own event before making a decision who to nominate for the 100m.”
Green said Isila Apkup and Pais Wisil were vying for that one spot and with the Australian season over and the US season drawing to a close next month, all eyes would be on Suva in the first week of June.
“Fiji is hosting a Continental Bronze level meet on June 1 where the athletes will have the opportunity to run in quality 100m races and this will be followed by the Oceania Championships from June 4 to 8,” he said.