STUPENDOUS !
What adjectives are there to describe the exploits (on track and field !) of I-Kiribati athletes in Apia ? Suffice to say that by setting (Heptathlon) or breaking TEN National Records here, the KAA contingent has taken the sport of Athletics some huge steps forward. The tragedy is that their achievements might NOT be adequately recognised within their own country !
EARLY-MORNING HALF-MARATHON.
Tekooki Teieka, accompanied by Simon, went for the 6.15 a.m. start of the Half-Marathon at the Apia Park National Stadium. He kept going strongly in the early morning sunshine, grateful for the water stops ! He finished back at the Stadium in 12th. place (of the 15 starters) in 1-31-51. This is about two minutes outside his PB.
PUTTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT !
Tiim Romatoa achieved one of his targets by completing six legal putts in the MShot. His first three efforts were a reasonable series, but the later three tailed off. Nevertheless his best was a new NR of 13.15m. for a final 7th. place (of the 8 throwers). His old record was 13.04m.
HAVING A SMASHING TIME !
A small problem (of forgetting his uniform red shirt and number) did not distract Taanini Teekia from contributing to another NR ! The target for the 4 x 400m. MRelay squad was 3-36 (an average of 54). Only losing touch with the main group in the final leg, the quad of Tearoba Takeruru, Taanini, Beteru Ateri (his third NR !), and Baiteke Ibeatu kept working and produced a startling time of 3-31.42, an average of under-53 each !! This was very satisfying for Tearoba and Baiteke who lost the chance of the 4 x 100 NR last night due to a DQ.
When you think that the new NR for 400m. is 52.00 and two of the best 400m. runners in Kiribati were not available (one studying and one injured), the potential for going under 3-28 must be there.
...AND THEN THERE IS THE BOOK !
Ex-Director of the RDC Adelaide, and co-author of the OBAS text book, Fletcher McEwen, has produced a History of Oceania Athletics. It is called "Tracks in the Sand" and the front cover is a photo from this web-site of the National Stadium at Bairiki in Tarawa, featuring the Final of the Senior Boys 200m. in the Inter-Secondary Schools Championships in 2005 ! The tracks in the sand are clearly marked - with waste oil from the power house ! Considering the dominance of "Meganesia" (Australia and New Zealand), to even get a mention in such a book is a compliment !
KIRIBATI SAYS "THANK YOU" !
It would be remiss of us, even without the NRs, if we did not say a big "Thanks !" to Lalau Willy Fong and all the officials and backroom staff who made the SPG Athletics meeting such a great opportunity for us. Even the disappointments will provide useful lessons for the future ! We just wish it did not cost so much to contemplate trying to attend even more overseas competitions than we do !
Last Modified on 09/09/2007 14:52