Athletics teams from all regions of PNG are descending on Port Moresby this week for the PNG Air sponsored 61ST National Track and Field Championships .
Thirteen provinces will be represented at the Championships, though this includes Sandaun and Western Province which only have a token presence of one athlete each.
A total of 210 male and 100 female athletes have been nominated , with a total of 16 teams representing NCD , Central , Oro , Sandaun , Western , East Sepik , Morobe , Eastern Highlands , Simbu , Lae , East New Britain , West New Britain and New Ireland.
APNG President Tony Green thanked all the teams for submitting their entries in advance and re affirmed that no further entries will be accepted after the final deadline of 5pm Thursday.
Green said it was essential that every team send a delegate to the technical meeting at the sir john Guise at 1pm on Friday to receive important information about the event and reconfirm their final entries.
Green thanked major sponsors PNG Air and Prima Smallgoods and a host of other sponsors and supporters including Panamex Pacific, PNG Olympic Committee , PNG Sports Foundation and HP.
He also acknowledged Kumul Consolidated Holdings for their support of National Squad athletes through PNG Olympic Committee.
Competition is scheduled to kick off at 2pm on Friday with heats of the 800m , 400m and the 5000m races. Saturday will see action in the 100m , 400m , 1500m and the 3000m steeplechase whereas Sundays track events will include the 200m , 800m , 3000m and the 10000m.
Many of PNG’s top throws athletes will be in action including Lakona Gerega, Sharon Toako and Jacklyn travertz, with 2015 Pacific Games Rep Jane Pulu also participating.
Throws will also be conducted for the Para athletes including Javelin , Discus and Shot put for both ambulant and seated. These events have been made possible through the support of the active throws training group in Port Moresby under coach Paul Bannister.
Strong competition is expected in the mens middle and long distance events as athletes gear up for the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst.
The 5000m in particular will be very competitive with Abel Siune , Wilford Baia, Sune Kagl , James Kuadua and Israel Takap all showing good form in lead up races.
Scholastica Herman is expected to dominate the womens middle distance events and will be aiming to break one or two junior records in what will be her last major event as a junior athlete (Under 20).
Herman has shown outstanding form in recent training sessions as a memorable year for her draws to a close,completing sessions such as 12*200m in 30 to 31 seconds on grass with only 2.5min recovery between each.
Christina Moiyang , Mirram Toby and Jeminah Mondo from Simbu will compete with Mary Tenge and Ongan awa in the 5000m. Olympian Rellie Kaputin flew in from Brisbane yesterday with Herman and is expected to take part in the 100m and Long Jump. \
However PNG’s star athlete is understandably apprehensive about jumping at the Sir John Guise stadium after breaking a bone in her foot there in 2019.
The mens 400m is always one of the highlights of any national championships as this has always been PNG’s strongest event.
Benjamin Aliel has already thrown down the gauntlet with an impressive 47.9 sec clocking two weeks ago, however Daniel Baul has been quietly preparing at NSI in Goroka.
Both Adolf Kauba and newcomer Lot Samare from New Ireland will add quality to this event.
Athletics PNG will be on the look out for new talent to strengthen its training squad for the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara and have been urging visiting teams to ensure that those athletes with outstanding potential make it to Port Moresby.
This is also the case for 15 and 16 year old athletes with the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games only nine months away.Athletics will be selecting athletes for this event after the Championships.