Juniors Perform Well in Cairns
The Athletics PNG Junior development squad returned from The Oceania Regional Championships in Cairns on June 30 with 8 gold 12 silver and 7 bronze medals. As expected , Donna Koniel was one of the outstanding athletes of the Championships, setting new personal best times of 56.17 and 61.54 in winning the 400m and 400m hurdles events respectively.
Particularly pleasing for Athletics PNG was the performance of the middle distance girls with Tuna Tine, Jenny Albert and Poro Gahekave all posting significant improvements in their personal best times. The PNG trio were part of the most exciting race of the Championships as they battled with Mereseini Naidau of Fiji in the U20 womens 1500m. The 800m was also a great race for PNG with Tuna knocking two seconds off her pb in running 2min 15.18 secs and Poro improving by four seconds to a time of 2:20.00. Adrine Monagi showed the benefit of her lead up races in Brisbane by posting big improvements in both her 100m (12.62) and 200m (26.15) times.
Newcomers Freddie Hongowori and William Ken both recorded significant improvements in their personal best times in both the 800m and 1500m events.Multi eventer Reginald Monagi threw the 1.75kg discus over 40metres and the Javelin 48m. Paul Pokana also had a very successful championships, running personal best times in both the 200m (22.13) in the 400m ( 49.51) . Joe Matmat ran a personal best 22.14 secs in the 200m and came very close to his pb in the 100m , clocking 11.05 secs.
Tony Green - July 5, 2012
Last Modified on 25/07/2012 11:26