Team PNG athletes set for final tune up at Highlands open championships

Athletes preparing for the upcoming Pacific Mini Games in Palau will have one final opportunity to test themselves this weekend at the Highlands Open Athletics Championships, hosted at the Papua New Guinea National Sports Institute [PNG NSI] in Goroka.

The annual event, organized by Athletics PNG, will take place on June 7–8 and is expected to be the most competitive edition yet, according to championships coordinator Philip Kamane.

“This year’s event is likely to be the best and the toughest compared to other years," Kamne said.
"The best athletes of Athletics PNG, training at NSI will be preparing for the Pacific Mini Games in less than two weeks.”

The competition will feature Team PNG athletes, who have been based at the NSI for months of intensive training, alongside emerging talent from the NSI’s Athlete Development Program [ADP], which is also expected to challenge for national spots.

Adding to the excitement, a team of promising young athletes selected from the recent Eastern Highlands Primary Schools Festival will also compete, representing schools across the province.

Kamane confirmed that all participating schools have been notified and are expected to send their student athletes to the event.

Athletes are also set to travel from as far as Finschhafen District in Morobe Province, with expectations that top contenders from Lae will also be in attendance.

Formerly known as the Highlands Momase Championships, the event was recently renamed to reflect its growing reach beyond the Highlands region.

“This does not however limit teams from outside the Highlands region to participate," Kamane said.
"As we have noted so far, a team from as far as Gagidu has registered their interest.”

The 2025 edition of the Championships will see its widest range of participants, with competition across age categories including Under-14, U16, U18, and Open Divisions.

Teams and clubs confirmed to participate include: Gagidu Primary School, Enga Provincial Team, Team Western Highlands, Team Simbu, Kerowagi Secondary School, Simbu Athletics Team, NSI ADP Team, Athletics PNG, Morobe Team, and the Eastern Highlands Primary Schools Team.

With just two weeks before the Pacific Mini Games, this weekend’s championships will be a key final test for PNG’s top athletes.