Two athletes return from US due to virus threat

Athletics Papua New Guinea (APNG) has reached out to its overseas-based athletes to pass on relevant information and to stress the importance of communication amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Two United States-based student athletes have already returned home from Iowa after consultations between their sponsor and college.
“As we understand it, the school decided to send all of its international students home  and offered them the chance to complete their classes online,” APNG president Tony Green said in a statement yesterday.
“If online classes are not practical, the students will repeat the semester when things get back to normal.”
Green thanked Foreign Affairs staff and Air Niugini for facilitating a smooth transfer of the athletes.
Meanwhile, APNG is maintaining contact with those of its athletes who remain in the US, all of whom are taking online classes to complete the semester.
Pacific Games champion Toea Wisil is also in the US but her competition will not take place due to the situation and she is now training with her coach Dior Lowry.
It is understood that the decision to go the US was made last month when it became clear that the competitions planned for Wisil in Asia were cancelled.
“It’s a very uncertain and quickly-changing situation for everyone,” Green said.
“Jumps athlete Rellie Kaputin remains in Australia with her coach Phillip Newton.
“Competition is not her priority at this time and she is now undergoing intensive training in order to get her fitness level back to where it was in June.
“As far as the PNG domestic calendar of events is concerned, these do not start until June and it is not considered necessary to make any decisions at the moment.
“However, APNG is monitoring the situation and will make appropriate announcements in due course.”