NSI ready to host National Track and Field Championships
The National Sports Institute in Goroka will come alive tomorrow with the 64th Track and Fields Championships and various associations from around the country have been arriving in the Eastern Highlands capital to take part in this national event.
According to Athletics PNG close to 400 athletes in total were nominated for the Championships, however with the larger teams struggling to raise funds, it is expected that some teams will be smaller than hoped.
Athletics PNG is not expecting all elite athletes who have proven themselves in the Pacific Mini Games in Palau and Oceania Cup in Tonga to attend as the focus is on selection of up and coming athletes into the national squad.
Nonetheless most members of the current National team that are based in PNG will be participating, including Timothy Tuna , Jiuteis Robinson, most female sprinters and all of the middle and long distance runners and field event athletes.
Teams of varying size from all parts of the country have nominated for the championships including Arawa, Kimbe , Talasea , Rabaul , Manus , Kavieng , Wewak , Maprik, Sumkar, Finschhaffen, Lae, Popondetta , NCD , Kerowagi , Kundiawa , Western Highlands and Eastern Highlands.
Athletics PNG Secretary Philip Rehder sincerely thanked Director Janet Gimots and her team for their hard work in preparing for the event.
He also thanked sponsors Prima Smallgoods and Lae Biscuits for their ongoing support.
The event starts tomorrow afternoon with semi finals in the open mens 400m and the 5000m races.
The final numbers of actual confirmed participants in the mens 100m, 200m and 400m will determine whether qualifying heats will be necessary.
A decision will be made tomorrow morning whether to introduce an Under-20 division in these events only.
Saturday will see semi finals in the 100m and 200m events and finals for the hurdles events , 1500m , 10000m and the 4x400m relays.
Field and Para events will be spread over the three days, and most track finals will be on Sunday including the 100m, 200m and 400m.