Runners eyeing C’ship

THE hosting of the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, New South Wales, in 2022 is seen as a great opportunity for Athletics Papua New Guinea (APNG).
Preparations began earlier this year with the establishment of a small training group of national squad athletes at Utmei Secondary School, East New Britain, under the guidance of national coach Bernard Manau.
Thanks to funding from World Athletics and the support of PNG Air, a second and larger training camp is now underway in Kerowagi, Chimbu.
Following the national championships in Port Moresby recently, nine Chimbu-based athletes were invited to join the camp along with two promising young athletes from West New Britain and a number of established runners, including George Yamak, Lyanne Tibu, Israel Takap Mary Kua, Mary Tenge and Ongan Awa.
Former distance representative runner Philip Kamane, who is now working at the National Sports Institute, said there would be nine male and 10 female athletes in the camp initially.
He said Chimbu had provided most of the distance runners who had represented PNG in recent years and it was hoped that by establishing an initiative such as this, more athletes would join the programme.
“We will conduct some road and cross country races as part of the programme which will hopefully unearth some more hidden talents,” Kamane said.
“Some of the athletes will be in camp only for the duration of the school holiday such as East New Britain-based Takap, James Kuadu, Siune Kagl and Mary Tenge. “When they return to school, it will create some space so we may add some more local athletes.”
Chimbu coaches Arnold Gigmai and Sapolai Yao are expected to assist with the training, other national coaches will come in from time to time.
WNB coach Wilson Malana and his wife Beatrish volunteered to spend part of the holiday period with the athletes to assist with the setting up of the programme.
The programme objective is to raise the standard of distance running in PNG which has been in a state of decline in recent years, according to APNG president Tony Green.
“In fact, all around the Pacific, not just in PNG,” he said.
“Whilst our athletes have been breaking national records in sprints, hurdles, jumps and throws in recent years, most of the men’s national records in long distance events date back to the 1970s and 1980s whereas most of the women’s records were set by Rosemary Omundsen in the early 1990s.
“We aim to have four to six male and a similar number of female athletes reach a standard that we consider worthy of selection for such a high-standard meet.”
The event includes 10km races for men and women plus junior men (8km) and women (6km), and a mixed relay consisting of two male and two female athletes, each of whom will run 2km.
The inclusion of the mixed relay is an opportunity to involve middle distance runners in the programme.
“Over the next few weeks, APNG will be inviting other sponsors to support the programme which also has the potential to deliver great benefits for PNG in the middle and long distance events at the 2022 Pacific Mini Games and 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands.
The programmes in Kerowagi and ENB will be complemented by a suitable competition programme for the athletes, including cross country experience in Australia in 2021 and a period of final preparation in Australia for the selected athletes.