Positives and negatives in Suva.
One woman and five young men competed for Kiribati in the latest Oceania AA Regional Championships in Suva, Fiji, from June 28 - July 1st. 2017. The fact that three of them were sprinters but none of them broke 12 seconds for 100m. (even into a strong headwind) shows that not much progress is being made. In his u20M 200m., Mobera proved better quality and broke 24. And in the final u20M 4 x 100m., with the addition of the relatively successful Teraoi (from the u18M HJ), they managed a respectable time of 44.72. (This compares with the 10-year-old National Record of 44.14.)
Teraoi placing 5th. and clearing 1.80m. put him close to the medals. But Nei Taatia, although physically strong, needs much technique practice in order to improve her rankings. So too with Tongalua in u18M Shot and Discus: he needs more basic strength and speed across the circles plus great improvement in techniques. His competitive targets need to be in the area of 12m. in Shot and 35m. in Discus. (Please check the KAA athletes' results from Suva.)
Prospects ?
One good thing about this selection was that it gave valuable experience to young athletes. But if they are to be rated even in Micronesian Athletics in the future, all KAA coaches need to set their sights and expectations much higher. OAA circulates minimum competition standards: judging these KAA performances against the OAA standards circulated in 2015, only Teraoi in the HJ achieved such a standard. Unless something like these standards, especially on the field events, are used as criteria for selection for such OAA competitions and as standards to be achieved by KAA athletes, such athletes will be struggling to achieve even a mid-rank performance.
And so to IAAF WC in London 2017.
In August 2017 the IAAF World Championships (and Para Championships) will be held in London. It is understood that Mobera Tonana has been entered for the M100m. To date it is not known who will accompany him and attend the Congress.
Image.
Of Kimwaua at Bairiki National Stadium in 2016.
Last Modified on 04/07/2017 09:10