KAA represented by Peter and Mobera in London 2017.
KAA President Peter Birati acted as Team Manager for sprinter Mobera Tonana when they flew with the Oceania group to London for the 16th. IAAF World Championships. 19-year-old Mobera, a son of former KAA Executive member Tonana George (Tioti), was entered - as with many unqualified athletes - in the M100m. This meant he had to race in the "Preliminaries" in order to try to qualify for the actual Heats.
Mobera's race.
Immediately after the Opening Ceremony on the evening of Friday, August 4th. in the London Olympic Stadium, four races were held as M100m. prelims. Mobera was drawn in lane 3 in the second of these sprints. (See image of start list.) His reaction (0.180) was on the slow side, as were his first few strides. Once he was into his action it was strong and determined and he could probably have gained from being more relaxed in neck and shoulders. But in that situation and in front of 60,000 spectators it would not be surprising if he 'froze' a little ! He placed 6th. of the 7 runners, only one milli-second slower than 5th., both being given 11.91.
This is a little slower than his PB, also achieved overseas.
To give some idea of reactions, the fastest reaction time of any athlete in those prelims was 0.105 sec. (Less than 0.1 is considered a 'false start' !) The slowest was 0.216. Mobera's was 0.180 and indicates one of the problems experienced by I-Kiribati sprinters. A shortage and lack of security of suitable blocks and ancillary equipment, plus a track made mostly of coral sand, mean that the chance of imitating a fast start is unlikely, even though the superficial reaction might seem quick. Those first ten strides are crucial. Anyway he did not commit a false start and he ran the best way his experience dictated.
See images of Mobera on his blocks and during the race.
Peter and Mobera will spend some of the rest of their London visit supporting the others of the Oceania athletes in London. Hopefully at some stage they will have the opportunity to see more of the UK capital than the official bus shuttle route from their separate hotels, at The Tower and on Canary Wharf, to the London Stadium ! So on Friday, August 11th., ex-KAA Secretary David Little drove from home in southern England to share a "fish-and-chips picnic" in a small London park near Canary Wharf. See images of Peter and Mobera on that grass !
Last Modified on 23/09/2017 21:58