Athletics PNG has named a final team of 64 athletes (35 men and 29 women) for the Pacific Games in July with a total of 55 athletes confirmed in the team , four reserves and a further five athletes being given additional time to reach a specified qualifying mark by June 19. The events kick off on July 13 and conclude with the half marathon on July 18
In releasing the names Athletics PNG President Tony Green said that the team was shaping up very well especially the women’s team which is set to not only dominate the track events but to win many medals in the jumps and multi events. “We have a very strong all round women’s team with not just the established elite athletes showing good form but many good performances this year in the middle and long distance events, with Miriam Goiye and Rama Kumilgo being outstanding”. Toea Wisil , Betty Burua and Donna Koniel were all in great form at the Oceania Championships and with Sharon Kwarula posting personal best times in three events this season the PNG womens team is striking fear into all visiting teams. Rellie Kaputin looks set to medal in all three jumps, having set national records this year in both long jump and triple jump and leads the Pacific Rankings in high jump as well.Adrine Monagi has established herself as favourite for the Heptathlon and PNG will have for the first time in many years several competitors in the women’s throws, led by Sharon Toako and Jane Pulu
In the men’s division PNG’s best hopes will be in the hurdles, the 400m the 4*400m relay the steeplechase and the middle distance events. We have a much more well rounded team than at any time since the 1991 Games said Green with strong representation in all track events, the jumps, including the pole vault and a few throwers led by Debono Paraka. Gold medal predictions in the men’s events are much more difficult than the women because there are so many unknown quantities. Green admitted that the mens 100m and 200m was weaker than for a very long time and Fijian Banuve Tabakaucoro appears certain to dominate these two events but said that we still have a good depth of talent to call on for the 4*400m with Nelson Stone, Kaminiel Matlaun, Theo Piniau, Wala Gime , Kevin Kapmatana and Mowen Boino to call on.
“We have made a lot of progress in the 800m and 1500m in the last two years” said Green, with athletes like Matlaun , Martin Orovo Andipas Georasi and George Yamak coming through. The men’s hurdles events are also looking strong with Mowen Boino Wala Gime and Peniel Joshua. In the mens jumps PNG’s hopes will rest mainly on Peniel Richard who has shown good form this year in both high jump and triple jump.
PNG will also be well represented in both the mens and womens Pole vault with Karo Iga Peniel Richard and Patrick Hou as well as Delilah Kami all adapting to this event. Green thanked the 2015 Games Committee for releasing poles for the athletes to train with in Brisbane under coach Phillip Newton. “Like golf clubs and snooker cues all poles are different and athletes need to get the feel of a pole so its no use training with poles in Australia and then coming up for the Games and using poles they are not used to” he said
The middle and long distance squad of 21 athletes and two coaches have been based in Goroka this year except for a five week stint in Adelaide and Brisbane to take part in various competitions and have found the NSI to be an ideal venue. Assistant manager Otto Wafia who joined the group last week was taken aback by the amazing team spirit that exists amongst the distance runners. The squad will remain in Goroka until the Games, except for a five day visit to Lae starting on June 18 for competitions and to enable steeplechase athletes to practice on the hurdles. The jumps and multi events squad have moved their training base from Kingscliff with coach Phillip Newton to join the sprints and hurdles group at Southport on the Gold Coast where they are all training under the overall direction of Coaching Director Sharon Hannan at Griffith University. Coaches Naomi Polum and Subul Babo recently joined the group there. The throws group of eight athletes are training in PNG with head coach Paul Bannister.
MEN
1 Idau Asigau Jumps
2 Verherney Babob 800m
3 Kupsy Bisamo Distance
4 Mowen Boino Hurdles
5 Andipas Georasi Middle distance
6 Wala Gime Hurdles
7 Patrick Hou Jumps
8 Karo Iga Jumps
9 Peniel Joshua Hurdles
10 Kevin Kapmatana 4*400m Relay
11 Simbai Kaspar Distance
12 Skene Kiage Distance
13 Slater Kurum Throws
14 Charles Livuan Sprints
15 Wesley Logorava Sprints/Hurdles
16 Nazmie-lee Marai Sprints
17 Kaminiel Matlaun 400m 800m
18 Joe Matmat Sprints
19 Cletus Mosi Javelin
20 Martin Orovo Middle distance
21 Debono Paraka Throws
22 Theo Piniau Sprints and relays
23 Steven Ray Jumps
24 Peniel Richard Jumps
25 Abel Siune Distance
26 Nelson Stone Sprints
27 Mong Tavol Jumps
28 Kupun Wisil Sprints
29 George Yamak Middle distance
30 Sapolai Yao Distance
31 Robson Yinambe Decathlon
Reserves John Rivan Sprints Ephraim Lerkin Hurdles
To be added if they reach a minimum performance by June 19
Conellius Pascha High Jump Cairo Peruka Throws
WOMEN
1 Afure Adah Hurdles
2 Jenny Albert middle distance
3 Ongan Awa Distance
4 Betty Burua Sprints/Hurdles
5 Poro Gahekave Distance
6 Miriam Goiye Middle/long distance
7 Rellie Kaputin Jumps
8 Naomi Kerari Jumps
9 Donna Koniel 400m
800m 400m h
10 Mary Kua Distance
11 Maria Kuanduma Distance
12 Cecilia Kumalalamene middle distance
13 Rama Kumilgo Distance
14 Sharon Kwarula Hurdles and relays
15 Carolyn Mando Distance
16 Adrine Monagi Multi events
17 Miriam Peni Sprints
18 Helen Philemon Multi events
19 Jane Pulu Throws
20 Eunice Steven Heptathlon 21 Sharon Toako Throws
22 Annie Topal Jumps
23 Shirley Vunatup Sprints and relays
24 Toea Wisil Sprints and relays
Reserves Tuna Tine 800m Bala Nicholas 1500m
To be added if they reach a minimum performance standard by June 19
Kapurepo Ravu Shot Put Delilah Kami Pole Vault / High Jump Jacqueline Travertz Hammer
Tony Green 4 June
Last Modified on 30/06/2015 10:55