Athletics PNG is greatly indebted to Bob Snow for his tireless efforts over the years in maintaining our performance records. As part of our 50th Anniversary Celebrations Bob has compiled this history of our participation in international competition.We hope that readers will find this document of great interest.It is still a work in progress and any correction and additions are most welcome and we would particularly like to add details of team managers and coaches who accompanied our teams. Contributions may be sent to png@mf.iaaf.org
Papua New Guinea joined the I.A.A.F. in 1961 and the Papua New Guinea Amateur Athletic Union was formed. The foundation associations were Port Moresby, Gazelle, New Ireland and Morobe. In the next twelve years, they were joined by Madang, Goroka, Western Highlands and Daru.
The early competition was domestic with the first National Championships held in Lae in 1962. At that meet there were only events for men, women having to wait until the 1963 National Championships that were held in Rabaul.
The first opportunity to compete overseas came in 1962 with the Empire Games, held in Perth, Western Australia. Initially, there were very few opportunities to compete overseas, but as the decades progressed many more chances emerged.
2011: Australian National Championships - Melbourne, Australia
Nelson Stone (200m & 400m)
2011: Australian U20 (Junior) National Championships - Sydney, Australia
Our representatives were Veherney Babob (800m & 1500m) and Donna Koniel (400mH). Coach Bill McKenny
2011: Arafura Games - Darwin, Australia.
Athletes who competed were Eunice Steven: Gold medal in the Long Jump; Competed in the 200m, 800m, 100mH & Shot Put. Tuna Tine: 1500m & 3000m. Andipas Georasi:1500m, 3000m & 5000m. Sharon Henry Kwarula: Gold in the 400m Hurdles; Competed in the 100m & 200m. Donna Koniel: 400m, 800m & 400m. Wala Gime: Gold medals in the 400m & 400m Hurdles. Paul Pokana: 100m, 200m & 400m. Kupsy Bisamo: 3000m, 5000m & 10000m. Anna Pius: 3000m & 5000m.The team won the gold in the Women’s 4 x 100m Relay & the Men’s 4 x 400m Relay. A team competed in the Men’s 4 x 100m Relay. Team officials Tony Green (distance group) and Naomi Polum and Delin Bais Team NCD
2011: Asian Grand Prix, China with meets at Jiaxing, Kunshan and Wunjiang, all located in the Shanghai region.
Competing were Nelson Stone (400m & 4 x 100m Relay), Toea Wisil (100m), Mowen Boino (400m & 400mH), Ruwan Gunasinghe (100m & 4 x 100m Relay), John Rivan (400m & 4 x 100m Relay), Reginald Worealevi (100m & 4 x 100m Relay) & Joe Matmat (100m & 4 x 100m Relay). Team Manager Tony Green.
2006: Australian National Championships held in Sydney, Australia.
PNG athletes participating were - Sapolai Yao (5000m & 3000mSt), Mowen Boino (400m Hurdles), Mae Koime (100m & 200m), Toea Wisil (200m & 400m), Salome Dell (800m & 1500m) and two relay teams: the Men’s 4 x 100m (Niulai, Kirika, Ben, Lui) who were 2nd in the final, and the Women’s 4 x 400m (Koime, Dell, Kumalalamene, Wisil) who finished 3rd in the final.
2006: Oceania Grand Prix competition held in Ba & Sigatoka (Fiji) & Apia (Samoa).
Our most successful athletes were Mowen Boino (Men’s overall winner track events – 400m) and Mae Koime (Women’s overall winner track events – 100m & 200m). Other team members were – Fabian Niulai (3rd Men’s track events – 100m, 200m & 400m), Wala Gime (400m), Levi Albert (400m), Waname Egora (100m, 200m & 400m), Wally Kirika (100m), Henry Ben (60m & 100m), Andrew Doonar (100m & 200m), Paulson Gebo (800m), Anton Lui (100m & 200m), Andrew Yeweh (800m & 1500m), George Nanai (100m & 200m), Lloyd Bureng (3rd overall in the Men’s field events – Long Jump & Triple Jump), Mong Tavol (Long & Triple Jumps), Toea Wisil (2nd overall in the Women’s track events – 100m, 200m & 400m), Betty Burua (400m), Cecilia Kumalalamene (400m & 800m) and Julie Waninara (100m & 200m).
Team Officials were Naomi Polum, John Baining and Peter Badirega, with Sophia Marai as Manager of the Oceania Grand Prix Squad.
2001: Australian National Championships - Brisbane, Australia
Mowen Boino (400m & 400m Hurdles) and Ann Mooney (400m) in the Senior Division and David Eri (Triple Jump) in the Junior Division.
2001: Gold Coast Marathon – Gold Coast, Australia
Gumsie Taulobi
2001: Adelaide Half Marathon - Adelaide, Australia
David Karnie
2001: South-East Asian Circuit
Mowen Boino (400m and 3rd in the 400m Hurdles) and David Karnie (5000m & 10000m) competed in the Thailand Open Championships in Bangkok and then journeyed to the Philippines Open Championships in Manila where Mowen won the 110mH and 400mH and finished 2nd in the 400m. David Karnie competed in the 5000m & 10000m and Ann Mooney won the 200m and 400m events and also competed in the 100m.
1996: Several PNG athletes participated in various Australian State Championships as part of a build-up to the Australian Nationals.
They were the Queensland Championships (Peter Pulu – 100m & 200m), Victoria Championships (Ivan Wakit – 110mH & 400mH), ACT Championships (Peter Pulu – 100m [1st] & 200m [1st], Subul Babo – 100m, 200m & 400m, Amos Ali – 100m & 200m, Angela Way – High Jump [1st] Long Jump & Triple Jump and Alan Akia – 100m. The Men’s 4 x 100m Team (Akia, Pulu, Ali, Babo) won the ACT Title).
1996: Australian National Championships - Sydney, Australia
Peter Pulu (100m), Amos Ali (100m & 200m), Alan Akia (100m), Subul Babo (200m & 400m) and Angela Way (High, Long & Triple Jumps) participated. The Men’s 4 x100m finished 4th in the Final (Babo, Pulu, Akia, Ali).
1996: All-Comers’ Meet - Sydney, Australia
At the beginning of their world tour the PNG team of distance runners participated. The highlight was the 3000m performances by Morris Manai and Ken Mova. The Team Manager for this world tour was Tony Green and Manager Stephen Mombi.
1991: PNG representatives to the Queensland State Titles - Queensland, Australia
Takale Tuna (gold medal in the 100m and silver medal in the 200m), Subul Babo (100m & 200m), Fosa Torea (400m & 800m), Cliff Madu (800m & 1500m), Aaron Dupnai (1500m & 5000m), Iammo Launa (gold medal in the Javelin and silver medal in the Shot Put, also competed in the 100m & 200m), Lily Tua (100m, 100mH, 400mH & Long Jump), Tahiri Homerang (bronze medal in the Long Jump and competed in the 400m). In the U20 division were Elizabeth Kamilus (gold medals in the 200m & 400mH and silver medal in the 400m) and Ileen Malai (bronze in the High Jump). Lillyanne Beining competed in the U18 division (100m, 200m & 100mH). Team Officials were Naomi Polum and Samu Sasama.
In the Australian National Championships in Sydney, Takale Tuna won bronze in the 200m, and competed in the 100m. Lillyanne Beining won the bronze in the U18 Heptathlon.
1991: 3rd World Championships in Athletics - Tokyo, Japan.
Our representatives were Iammo Launa (Shot Put) and John Hou (100m).
1986: First World Junior Athletics Championships - Athens, Greece
Our two competitors were Cathy Rasehai (100m & Long Jump) and Emmanuel Mack (100m & 200m).
1986: Malaysian Open Championships - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Competing were Takale Tuna (100m, 400m & 4 x 100m Relay), Emmanuel Mack (100m & 4 x 100m Relay), Robert Karava (100m & 4 x 100m Relay), John Siguria (800m & 4 x 100m Relay) and Iammo Launa, who won both the Javelin and Heptathlon.
1986: Commonwealth Games - Edinburgh, Scotland
A team was selected and prepared, but at the last minute PNG boycotted the Games. Two athletes, Cathy Rasehai and Emmanuel Mack, were already in Europe following the World Juniors in Greece. Other team members who were selected, and prepared, but did not travel were Iammo Launa, Robert Karava, John Siguria, Lapule Tamean and Takale Tuna.
1981: Canberra Marathon – Canberra, Australia
Salitia Muga
1981:1st Mini South Pacific Games - Honiara, Solomon Islands
The PNG Team won 7 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals – not bad for a team of only nine athletes! The team members were - Bernie Amof (Marathon), Abel Smith Manumanua (5000m, 10000m & Marathon), Aloysius Patuku (200m & 400m), Lapule Tamean (gold medals in the 200m & 400m), Tau John Tokwepota (3000m St, 10000m & Marathon), Elanga Buala (100m, 200m, 400m & gold in the 4 x 400m Relay), Barbara Ingiro (100m, 200m & gold in the 4 x 400m Relay), Nerrie Sine (gold in the 3000m and 4 x 400m Relay and competed in the 1500m)) & Salitia Muga (gold medals in the 400m, 800m and 1500m and the 4 x 40om Relay). The Team Manager was John Masio and Team Coach was Vuatha Kapa.
1981: Mini Commonwealth Games - Brisbane, Australia
Representing PNG was Paiwa Bogela (400m & 400m Hurdles).
1976: Australian National Championships - Melbourne, Australia
John Kokinai competed in the 5000m & 10000m.
1976: Olympic Games - Montreal, Canada
Our first participation in the Olympics was spearheaded by Wavala Kali (200m & 400m), Tau John Tokwepota (10000m & Marathon) and John Kokinai (5000m and the Marathon). Athletics Team Manager - Sam Piniau.
1978: Australian National Championships - Brisbane, Australia
PNG athletes in action were Tau John Tokwepota (5000m & 3000m Steeplechase), Batum Makon (5000m & 10000m), Michael Sengi (5000m), G. Vavina (Long Jump), Delin Lemen (100m & 200m), Annamason Paulius (800m & Pentathlon). Tom Brandt Manager/Coach
1971: 4th South Pacific Games - Pirae, Tahiti
PNG won 6 gold medals (with three going to one of the Games’ outstanding performers - Salitia Pipit), 13 silver and 11 bronze medals. Truly PNG’s best performance to that date. There were 15 men and 7 women in the team, with 21 athletes winning medals. Team members were - Silas Tita (100m, Long Jump & 4 x 100m Relay), Paul Maraga (100m, 200m & 4 x 100m Relay), John McCubbery (100m, 200m & both relays), Goa Koite (200m, 400m & 4 x 400m Relay), Moses Purpuruk (400m, 400m Hurdles & 4 x 400m Relay), Philip John Kayo (800m gold and competed in the 1500m and 4 x 400m Relay)), Raka Vele (800m & 1500m), Ala Loi (5000m, 10000m, 3000m Steeplechase & Marathon), John Kokinai (5000m & 3000m Steeplechase), Tom Brandt (10000m & the Marathon), Gari Vagi (10000m & the Marathon), Raki Leka (110m Hurdles and the Decathlon), Kila Raula (Long Jump gold and competed in the Triple Jump and the 4 x 100m Relay), Peiwa Waea (Triple Jump gold and competed in the High Jump), John Warnock (Hammer Throw), Salitia Pipit/Muga (gold medals in the 200m, 400m & 800m and competed in the 100m, 1500m & 4 x 100m Relay)), Alu Ravusiro (100m & 400m), Gaet Nim (100m, 200m 400m & 4 x 100m Relay), Meg Taylor (100m Hurdles, Long Jump, Shot Put, Pentathlon and the 4 x 100m Relay), Nancy Kennedy (High Jump, Long Jump and 4 x 100m Relay), Lavah Tingdai (Shot Put & Discus), Kuni Namur/Tigilai (Shot Put, Discus & Javelin).
1966: Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica
Silas Tita (100 yards and Long Jump) and Aphmeledy Kaumatua (100 yards and 220 yards) were our only athletes.
1966: The Second South Pacific Games - Noumea, New Caledonia
We won 1 gold (men’s 4 x 100m Relay), 6 silver and 4 bronze medals. A team of 37 athletes traveled to New Caledonia for the Games. They were - Bruce Richter (gold in the 4 x 100m Relay and competed in the 100m & 200m), Silas Tita (gold in the 4 x 100m Relay and competed in the 100m and Long Jump), Aphmeledy Kaumatua (gold in the 4 x 100m Relay and competed in the 100m & 200m), Damien Midi (400m & 4 x 400m Relay), Eliab Vuate (400m and 4 x 400m Relay), Isikel Kikila (400m), Milio Rimbut (800m and 1500m), William Wellbourne (800m, 400m Hurdles and 4 x 400m Relay), Pius Sinavih (1500m & 3000m Steeplechase), David Keating (1500m), Livingstone Tabua (5000m), Darius Ngaien (5000m & 10000m), John Varula (5000m & 10000m), Fred Dori (110m Hurdles), Michael Kalas (110m Hurdles & Discus), Peter Tavip (400m Hurdles and 4 x 400m Relay), Peiwa Waea (High Jump), Michael Beni (High Jump), Simon Kanamon (Pole Vault), Placid Walekwate (gold medal in the 4 x 100m Relay and the Long Jump), Robert Davis (Shot Put), Misikarum Masun (Discus), Ivaharia Oe (Javelin), Meriba Wika (100m & 4 x 100m Relay), Delilah Exon (100m, Long Jump & 4 x 100m Relay), Naomi Taraingal/Polum (100m, 200m, 80m Hurdles & 4 x 100m Relay), Navo Anis (200m, 400m & 4 x 100m Relay), Molly Penny (400m), Bernadette Namal (800m), Paula Paraide (80m Hurdles), Piritia Matagal (High Jump), Roselyn Mackerass (High & Long Jumps), Lavah Tingdai (Shot Put), Kengen Minao (Shot Put), Perpetua Warvagai (Discus), Sophia Bilur (Javelin). Athletics Team Manager - Cyril McCubbery.
Papua New Guinea joined the I.A.A.F. in 1961 and the Papua New Guinea Amateur Athletic Union was formed. The foundation 62-associations were Port Moresby, Gazelle, New Ireland and Morobe. In the next twelve years, they were joined by Madang, Goroka, Western Highlands and Daru.
The early competition was domestic with the first National Championships were held in Lae in 1962. At that meet there were only events for men, women having to wait until the 1963 National Championships that were held in Rabaul.
The first opportunity to compete overseas came in 1962 with the Empire Games, held in Perth, Western Australia. Initially there were very few opportunities to compete overseas, but as the decades progressed many more chances emerged. What follows is a summary of the main international competitions in which PNG athletes participated.
1962: Commonwealth / Empire Games - Perth, Australia
Ten athletes represented PNG in our first international meet since becoming a member of the IAAF. These trail-blazing athletes were - John Kaputin (440 yards), Bruce Richter (100 yards and 220 yards qualifying for the quarter-finals for both events), Allan Crawley (100 yards and Long Jump), Leana Gari (100 yards), P. Labert (100 yards, qualifying for the quarter-final), Damian Midi (440 yards), Edward Laboran (High Jump), Robin Barclay (Pole Vault), Ivaharia Oe (Javelin) and George Heriot (Javelin). In addition PNG entered a 4 x 110 yard relay (Gari, Labert, Richter, Crawley).