Short course titles in Lae

Sports

FOR the first time in more than six years, the Lae Swimming Club will host the TNT National Short Course (25m) Swimming Championships from today.
The three-day event is the final meet on the PNG Swimming Inc calendar and is an opportunity for athletes to swim qualifying times to gain a place in the BSP Aquatic Excellence Squads.
More than 60 swimmers from Lae, Port Moresby and Brisbane are expected to compete in the hopes of making the train-on squad for the 2019 Pacific Games or to be named in the final team that will travel to China for the Fina Short Course World Championships in December.
The championships are also the last competitions for Youth Olympian Leonard Kalate, pictured, who travels next week to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to compete at the Youth Olympic Games.
PNG Swimming Inc president Elizabeth Wells said the majority of the competitors would come from the host club and it was a great opportunity for them to experience a national competition.
“Most of the swimmers will come from the Lae Swimming Club,” Wells said.
“Over the last few years, we’ve had our national championships in Port Moresby and due to costs many Lae swimmers used to miss out but this time they’ll be able to compete at a national event.”
Queensland-based swim coach Rick Van Der Zant, who coached Team PNG swimmers at the Commonwealth Games, will be in Lae to help local coaches and athletes in a mentoriing role.
Local Fina-accredited referee Susan Babao will oficiate at the meet at the Lae International School pool.