Stone departs for States to prepare top athletes

FORMER Olympian Nelson Stone will depart today for Kansas to help United States-based Papua New Guinea prepare for next month’s Pacific Mini Games in the Northern Marianas.
Appointed as the national athletics assistant coach, he will be carrying out his first obligation in the next few weeks leading up to the Games on June 17.
“I will be training 14 of our US-based athletes who are part of the Mini Games teams with the aim to build a winning culture,” Stone told The National yesterday.
“Apart from guiding our athletes in the US for their final preparations, I’ll fine-tune sprinters Leroy Kamau and Emmanuel Anis.
“It’s my first obligation as an assistant coach, apart from looking after my Nest athletics club, and my role as the strength and conditioning head of Digicel Cup side Hela Wigmen.
“I coached Leroy in PNG through video calls and messages. He has been in red-hot form lately. He has been running some fast times under the programme that I’ve developed.
“Emmanuel is another athlete I’ll be working with.
“I’ll be with them for six weeks till the end of the Mini Games.
“From there (US), I’ll take the athletes over to the Mini Games.
“The US-based athletes are in fine form. Roland Hure has been jumping well along with Penial Richard and our female sprinters.
“Shadrick Tansi and Emmanuel Wanga are doing well in the 400m, so the boys are looking good.
“My aim is to get them together, build a team and winning culture, fine-tuning the athletes especially our sprinters.
“Most importantly, we’ll try manage their load in terms of training and competitions to get their bodies and minds ready for the Games.”