Vele scoops PNG’s first medal at Oceania championships

Papua New Guinea stalwart Georgia-Leigh Vele smashed her personal best [PB] in the final of the 50m butterfly, swimming a new record time of 29.57 seconds.

Her committed effort also earned PNG’s first medal at the Oceania Championships, finishing third in the women’s category with bronze.

Continuing her top form from the 2024 Pacific Games, Vele surpassed her previous record of 29.81 yesterday by 27 milliseconds, setting a new PB in the short course event.   

Her female counterpart Jhnayali Tokome-Garap swam a time of 30.96sec, whilst male comrades Josh Tarere clocked in 27.30sec and Thomas Chen also swam personal bests in the 50m butterfly.

Other Team PNG members in Nathaniel Noka (27.68) and Abigail Ai Tom (32.45) swam just shy of their morning heats swims in the similar event.

Meanwhile in the long course, Tarere managed 2.08.54 (2-minutes, 08.54 seconds) for his 200m freestyle, swaying outside his best, but took away a great learning experience in pacing.

Joanna Chen improved on her heats, swimming a notable 1.16.12 in the final of the 100m backstroke.

In the 4 x 50m mixed freestyle event, PNG team were on track last night finishing fourth in the final.

Representing PNG were, Tarere who took the lead with a personal best of a 24.26, followed by Chen, Jhnayali and Vele coming home fast.

Vele and Tarere backed up minutes later in the mixed 4 x 100m medley relay, once more finishing a close fourth placing.

The team contesting this event was Abigail (1.18.34), Chen, Noka and Vele.

The Oceania Championships will continue today at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre and will conclude tomorrow.