Seven national reps in Chimbu training camp

 By ZACHERY PER

SEVEN national runners from Mt Wilhelm Gembogl district, Chimbu, have gone into an intensive training camp at Kondiu Secondary School with the rest of the runners from the province.

The Kondiu camp is to prepare athletes for the PNG Games in Lae in November and for the 2015 Commonwealth Games.

Mt Wilhelm Athletics Association head coach Willie Sugmasaid the seven runners were identified and selected during the PNG Games and other athletics championships.

They are Monica Miugle, Maria Kuaduma, Tuna Tina, Andamgo John, Getrude Joe, Skene Kiage and Kupsy Pisamo – all of whom came out of the Mt Wilhelm Athletics Association.

Sugma said since the inception of Mt Wilhelm Athletics Association there had been no external funding support, the runners asked their parents for levy fees and other expenses until last year when Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Tobias Kulang gave them K100,000.

“I thanked Kulang for being the first leader to come out good to give us money; the money is used to develop athletics programmes, athletes uniforms, carnival programmes in the district, provincial, highlands, Momase championships, the national championships and PNG Games,” he said.

Sugma said they produced seven athletes and were identifying raw talent.

He  thanked Kulang, the Kundiawa-Gembogl district administration and the Joint District Planning and Budget Priorities Committee for supporting the  athletics programme.

“In March, there will be a Kundaiwa-Gembogl district athletics championship at Gembogl station  and which will involve schools and athletics associations, where further talents will be identified and enhanced talents already identified,” Sugma said.