KAA WELCOMES YVONNE.
Since she was appointed to the post of Executive Director of Oceania A.A., Yvonne Mullins has had the wish to visit as many of the constituent member federations as possible. Finally she has managed to fit such a visit into her busy schedule and on Thursday, May 10th. she landed at Bonriki International Airport on Tarawa to be greeted by KAA Treasurer, Mrs. Rusila (Mwea) Teraoi.
She is accompanied and assisted by Lars Hansen (a young coach currently working in Fiji), and they are accommodated at a hotel near the National Reuben K. Uatioa (RKU) Stadium in the former centre of government, Bairiki.
On her first day she had meetings with members of the Kiribati NOC, and today (Friday) met officials at the Ministry of Internal and Social Affairs (MISA). Unfortunately the National President, Anote Tong, and the Vice-President and Minister of MISA, Mrs. Teima Onorio, are both out of the country at the moment.
To finish a busy first day, she also managed to fit in two workshops with athletics Coaches and Technical Officials, which were well-attended. The first was about "Kids' Athletics", which is essentially the IAAF Coach system (CECS) Level 1. The second was a general Introduction to the IAAF Officials' system (TOECS) Level 1.
This afternoon she will attend and assist at Road Races.
RESULTS of ROAD RACES.
MENS' RACE. This was run mostly on the only main road on the capital island, Tarawa. The course distance was approx. 21 km. It was run on Friday, May 11th. afternoon. A total of 22 runners produced an excellent race. It was won by Tebwao Tekiau in 1-27.1. He was followed by Maua Beiaiti in 1-31.1 and Laonibutia Tirintetaake in 1-32.1.
WOMENS' RACE. The course distance, also mostly on the main road, was approx. 10 km. A total of 14 runners set a good pace. The winner was Tieua Taanga in 50.53, followed by Christina Banririe in 50.59 and Ririere Kenneth in 52.41.
The races finished at the National Stadium as the evening drew in, so some of the images in later stories were taken at the Stadium in the dark ! Yvonne helped by distributing the prizes.
WAD and SUNDAY ACTION.
On Saturday May 12, KAA staged their second World Athletics Day for 2012. (Two days are used because two age-groups and two formats are offered.) Yvonne and Lars assisted in the organisation of this annual event and presented the IAAF promotional items (T-shirts, pins, certificates, etc.) at the end. It is reported to have "gone well" !
Sunday was meant to be a rest day, but was planned to include a typical Kiribati Church service in the morning plus a boat trip on the lagoon and visit to some WW2 relics in the afternoon.
Yvonne and Lars were due to leave Tarawa for Fiji early on Monday morning.
Report and images now completed. See subsequent stories.
IMAGES.
The first image is the finish of an earlier 200m. race at the RKU National Stadium. The second and third are of a Boys' sprint in WAD. The last two are of a Girls' Hurdles race and Presentations at WAD with Albert (Secretary), Yvonne, Lars, and a number of athletes.
Last Modified on 02/06/2012 02:19