Pacific Games triple gold medallist in the womens jumps Rellie Kaputin has started her 2016 season just where she left off last year and has become the first PNG woman to long jump over six metres. Kaputin who set national records in the high jump, triple jump and long jump at the Pacific Games in winning all three events started her 2016 season by breaking the West Texas A&M University records for long jump and triple jump with performances of 5.96m and 12.63m respectively, both of which were both just shy of her national records of 5.97m and 12.65m. On Saturday in Canyon at her home track Kaputin again jumped consistently and recorded a best leap of 6.04m. “It wont count as a national record because the following wind was 3.8 metres per second but this gives Rellie the confidence to aim higher”, said Athletics PNG President Tony Green. “Her goal this year is to make an impression at the NCAA Division Two National Championships in Florida which will be staged at the end of May.”
Meanwhile Adrine Monagi continues to improve and she recorded her best ever heptathlon score in San Angelo last weekend, amassing 5021 points over the seven events. Although this is slightly better than Iammo Launa’s national record set at the 1991 Pacific Games, the score is invalid for record purposes because the 200m , long jump and the 100m hurdles were also wind assisted.”Adrine is still young and has a lot of improvement in her said Green so it does seem only a matter of time before she breaks the record.” Monagi , like Kaputin , Theo Piniau and triple jumper Peniel Richard are aiming for the NCAA D2 National Championships at the end of May.
Just down the road from Canyon at South Plains College, Levelland Poro Gahekave and Shirley Vunatup are both progressing well and have qualified for the Junior College national championships which will be staged at SPC in May. Gahekave ran 19min 34 secs for the 5000m last weekend in Abilene in cold and windy conditions whereas Vunatup has qualified in the sprinting events and may also feature in the school’s 4*400m relay team
Pictured: 6.04m jump
Photo by: Brian Barret Photography
Last Modified on 13/04/2016 11:41