THIS WAS HARD !
We've staged it before, but for the majority this was their first time. The gold medallist from Saipan (Micronesian Athletics Championships in December 2005) was on generally good form, averaging over 550 points for each of the first four events. This was Rabangaki, and he led the way from the first event. There were three "Senior Men", two U-18 men, and one U-18 woman.
In the Long Jump, Rabangaki pushed himself to 5.70m. on his third attempt. Tim (sprinter in Beijing) cleared 5.53m. Lilly (the woman) was way below her best with 3.99m. The others did as well as they could, not being jumpers !
Next we did Javelin. The U-18 boys were allowed to use 700gm. implements. This produced some excellent efforts, with Rabangaki (National Record-holder for Javelin) producing 47.77m. on his third attempt, the second-best throw ever by an I-Kiribati. Meanwhile Bonea, on only his second-ever try to "kare te kai", used his fast arm and basic technique to throw 41.55m. !! The other U-18 Tim managed a PB of 35.90m. Rabaite also threw a PB of 35.00m. Lilly and Greese were learning slowly !
The 200m. was more familiar ground, all except Bonea scoring their best points on this event. The quickest were, predictably, Tim (24.4) and Rabangaki (24.5). Lilly ran with the Under-18 boys and was satisfied with 31.0.
Having scored 465 points for his Javelin effort, Bonea was back on "home ground" for the Discus. Again, the U-18 Men used the 1.5k. implement. Bonea showed some of the benefit of his recent training throwing a PB of 39.32m., tantalisingly close to his next target (40m.) This was worth the top individual points score for one event, i.e. 651. Rabangaki was also at his best doing a PB of 35.60m. with the Senior plate. Tim, on UN-familiar ground, still threw 26.86m.
And so to the final events. We had started at 0830 and it was now noon. A light shower had cooled us a little, but now the distant "globe" was warming our globe ! Lilly started with the others but was only running 800m. Greese needed to push ahead of Rabaite to beat him overall, and by finishing in 5-34.8 (to Rabaite's 6-32.4), he turned a 175-points deficit into a 54-points advantage. Rabangaki has run the 1500m. - his hardest event - faster, but he had done enough to show his present form.
The final results:-
U-18 Women. 1. Lilly David. 306 + 163 + 399 + 147 + 155 = 1170 points.
U-18 Men. 1. Tim Natua. 487 + 383 + 637 + 403 + 115 = 2025 points.
2. Bonea Tokataake. 326 + 465 + 255 + 651 + 82 = 1779 points.
Senior Men. 1. Rabangaki Nawai. 523 + 556 + 628 + 576 + 157 = 2440 points.
2. Greese Tauiaong. 303 + 227 + 505 + 236 + 376 = 1647 points.
3. Rabaite Tairati. 350 + 370 + 467 + 259 + 147 = 1593 points.
Thanks to Rianimarewe and to the athletes for helping / supporting each other.
Last Modified on 15/10/2006 20:24