Students looking for fun, games

WHAT can you expect from a team of mostly school children participating in the 5th PNG Games in Kokopo?
Just ask Bialla Primary School deputy headmaster Tom Veikwai, who is in charge of Team West New Britain athletics team as head coach.
“It’s all about fun for these kids and experience of a life-time for some who have never travelled out of their province before,” he said.
“Most of them are primary school students coming for their first games.
“It’s a good opportunity for many of them to get exposed to the Games and compete at this level.
“Our team comprises 27 male and 22 female athletes who were selected from school level trials, including districts and provincial trials.
“We are also here to get some medals and upset the giants.”
The youngest in the team is 11-year-old Grade 5 student Macwell Loga while the oldest is 45-year-old Steven Mondia, a former PNG representative in the 1980s.
“We also have experienced runners in Joe Kembu and Wilson Malina who I have confident will lead our team well,” Veikwai said.
Team WNB will take part in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m events.