PNG enjoy perfect night in women’s and men’s 400m
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| PNG won all three medals in the women’s 400m, with Toea Wisil leading the way. Photo by Dave Buller. |
Toea Wisil (PNG) led a podium sweep for Papua New Guinea in the women’s 400m and Nelson Stone (PNG) headed another sweep in the men’s 400m to cap a day in which almost all of the track medals went to the host nation.
Wisil’s name is usually synonymous with the shorter sprint races, but on Wednesday she dug into her energy reserves to cross the line in first place in the women’s 400m with a time of 54.17 seconds, followed by PNG teammates Donna Koniel (54.29 seconds) and Betty Burua (55.21 seconds).
“I didn’t expect that to happen, but thank God for everything,” Wisil said. “Everything is possible in life, and I believed in myself that I could do it, and I did, and I delivered to the home crowd, so I’m happy.”
Wisil fell on her hands and knees after the race and had to be helped from the track, but she had regained her energy by the time of the medal ceremony, wearing a wide grin as she received her second gold of the Games.
“I got my energy back,” Wisil said. “So I’m looking forward to the 200m (on Thursday).”
Stone had no problems with energy is his men’s 400m victory, blitzing the field in a time of 47.56 seconds. The silver medal went to PNG’s Theo Piniau (48.08 seconds) and bronze went to Kaminiel Matlaun (PNG) with a time of 48.43 seconds.
“I wasn’t in good form at the start of the year. I was written off by many,” Stone said.
“I didn’t put in a good performance all throughout the year. But two weeks before the Games, I put up a good performance. I peaked at the right time.”
After the race, Stone immediately went to his fans in the crowd to show his appreciation, making a slow victory lap around BSP stadium to get up close and personal to as many supporters as possible.
“I didn’t win this with my body, but I won it with my heart, and God,” Stone said. “With my family in the stands it was something special that I really need to lift, and I lifted more than I ever did before.”
In the men’s 1500m, Adrien Kela (NCL) held on down the home stretch to take gold in a time of 4 minutes 19 seconds.
He was closely pursued by Papua New Guinea’s George Yamak (4:19.38) in second place, with Martin Orovo (PNG) taking bronze in a time of 4:21.77.
“I faced a failure yesterday in the 800m, so I wanted to get a gold medal back in the 1500m race,” Kela said. “I am not used to attacking so early in the race, so I took a risk and I had to keep up until the end.”
Sharon Kikini Firisua (SOL) added to her previous gold in the women’s 5000m with gold in the women’s 10000m on Wednesday in a time of 38:33.04.
“The 5000m was my best event. This was the second time I’ve ever run (the 10,000m) in my life,” Firisua said. “It’s too complicated.”
Taking the silver was Ongan Awa (PNG) in a time of 39:07.97.
It appeared that Mary Kua (PNG) would take the bronze medal, but she was disqualified after she removed her bib during the course of the race.
Moving up to take the bronze in her place was 40-year-old Elodie Menou epse Mevel (TAH) in a time of 39:32.98.
On a day where personal grief was a common thread among the athletics gold medallists, Firisua was racing in memory of her late father.
“My dad passed away in 2014, he was supposed to be in this competition watching me,” Firisua said. “I just dedicate this gold medal to my late father.”
Wisil has also been competing in the face of personal tragedy, having lost her father two months ago and her brother three months ago. Men’s hammer gold medallist Erwan Cassier also dedicated his victory to his late father.
Wednesday also saw the first four events in the women’s heptathlon, with Adrine Monagi (PNG) leading with a score of 3039 points after the 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200m events. Lucie Turpin (NCL) was her closest challenger with 2935 points.
Athletics continues on Thursday, with the women’s and men’s 200m races and the women’s and men’s 4x400m among the top-billed events.
By Daniel Kerwin, Tumbe Sam and Ingrid Cosnier, Games News Service
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