Toako sets new record

Sports

TEAM Papua New Guinea athlete Sharon Toako set a new national record for the women’s discus in Port Moresby last weekend with a distance of 38.96m, eclipsing the mark of 38.46m set by heptathlete Iammo Launa in 1993, also in Port Moresby.
Toako is better known as the national record holder and Pacific Games record holder in the Javelin.
Saturday’s throw took everyone, including coach Paul Bannister, by surprise as the athletes had been preparing for next month’s national championships and there were no great expectations of anyone prior to the meet.
Toako returned from the United States in July after completing her forestry studies at New Mexico Highlands University.
After completing her two-week quarantine and when training facilities had re-opened in September, she joined Bannister’s group which included national team members Lakona Gerega and Jackie Travertz.
Meanwhile, Athletics PNG (APNG) has requested that the Sir John Guise Stadium management erect the throws cage so that “our athletes can train under competition conditions”.
“Throwing a hammer through a narrow gap from a cage is a lot different to throwing in an open field but even for the discus, athletes need to learn correct techniques,” APNG president Tony Green said in a statement.
He appealed to the PNG Sports Foundation and venue management to get behind “our throwers as they prepare for important competitions in 2022”.
“We are very fortunate to have a qualified coach from Australia here in the country and its important that Bannister’s squad, including Tokyo-targeted para athletes Morea Mararos and Nelly Leva, get the support they deserve,” Green said.

One thought on “Toako sets new record

  • Well done Sharon. After Iamo Launa’s retirement PNG did not have much success in the sport of throwing (discuss, shot putt) for women. You came into the scene and brought success for the country with a gold medal performance in Samoa last year. Keep working hard for more success for our country. You are already a role model for the younger ones to follow.

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