Stone eyes 200m
The National, Wednesday 30th of July, 2014
NATIONAL men’s 200-metre champion Nelson Stone is gunning
for a better showing at the Commonwealth Games.
The 33-year-old, who is Papua
New Guinea’s best sprinter from 100m to 400m, failed to advance to the second round of the 400m heats yesterday, finishing fifth in heat three in a time of 47.60 seconds, 1.1 seconds
Teammate Theo Piniau finished in 48.50 in heat two at Hampden Park Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland.
After Toea Wisil set the standard for Team PNG athletes by making the women’s 100m semi-final the same day, Stone, whose preference is the 200m, would be aiming to better his national and Oceania record in this event which is 21.09, set four years ago in Cairns, Australia.
Plagued with injuries over the past two years, Stone has not improved significantly but the Central man could be primed for what is most likely his last Commonwealth Games.
Making the second round seems like an attainable task on the talent-laden Commonwealth Games track.
Stone’s ambition will be to out-perform his fellow Pacific Islanders as a lead-up to the Pacific Games next year in Port Moresby.
Stone, who has carried the mantle as fastest man in PNG over the last four years would want to end his international career on a high note.
Stone’s other event will be the 4x400m and the 4x100m relays in which he teams up with Piniau, Kevin Kapmatana and Kupun Wisil tomorrow.
Initially a martial artist and part time rugby league player Stone has achieved much in athletics after a late start.more than his 2010 Delhi Games time of 46.70