CONTEMPLATING 25 LAPS !
Following in the footsteps of Taanini yesterday, another new boy, Tearoba Takeruru, ran in a burst of sunshine (between the raindrops) in Heat 2 of the M400m. this morning. Even running 7th. of 8 he was still - as is the habit with I-Kiribati - able to push himself to a PB and a new NR of 52.00. This will be an encouragement to the rest of the 4 x 400m. Relay team later in the week.
Contemplating the prospect of 25 laps of the stadium is Kaboka Favae, another new boy ! He has been preparing himself physically and psychologically for an event to which he is a novice. Nevertheless, his training has been OK and he should survive ! But there are no water stops ! (See up-date below.)
GOOD SUPPORT.
It is to the credit of the other sports (Table-Tennis, Tennis, and Weight-Lifting) that they have been noisy supporters of the athletes ! For that we are very grateful !
SOME INJURIES.
A disappointment has been a hamstring injury to sprinter Toom Annaua. This has effectively wasted his journey, because he is unlikely to be involved in the Relays either, having had to be withdrawn from both 200m. and 400m. events. Mariuti Uan ran a PB in the M100m. Heats last night, but suffered an abdominal strain which has forced his withdrawal from the M200m. tomorrow. Apart from blisters and the odd nick, everyone else seems to be fit ! We hope this continues. (Later it was announced that there would be no Heats of the M200m. tomorrow. These will replace the Semis on Thursday, from which athletes will qualify for the Final, also on Thursday.)
10K. UP-DATE.
Well, he DID survive 25 laps. Kaboka tried to go with the pace for about 1500m. but then hit his "wall", going from 7 mins. for the first 2000m. to more than 8 mins. for each of the rest. He ran the last lap on his own, to great applause from the stands, and sprinted the final 90m. It was not quite a standing ovation, but most Athletics crowds appreciate a trier ! His final time was 41-35.29.
Now he has to "come down", repair the tired muscles, and be ready for the M1500m. tomorrow. But that will be another story. We dined on sweet-and-sour fish and bread-and-butter pudding tonight ! That should replace some of the used protein and carbohydrate !
Last Modified on 05/09/2007 18:22