Athletics competition manager Ina Marsters says no action will be taken against Solomon Islands’ Betty Babalu for stepping off the track during the 5000m on Tuesday. Marsters says that incident was spotted by a race marshall which occurred as Babalu ran shoulder-to-shoulder with eventual second place-getter Sereima Liku. Babalu came into contact with the Fijian, which forced her off the track. “No action will be taken against Betty. It [stepping off the track] was not intentional and she did not gain any advantage from it.” Babalu’s inclusion in the 10,000m race on Thursday also caused a bit of stir with some questioning the 12-year-old’s place in open races. However, Marsters says that there are no rules which restrict athletes from competing in Pacific/Mini Games, because of one’s age. Another incident involving a Fijian athlete, Soko Salaniqiqi, in the heptathlon 200m occurred on Thursday. Salaniqiqi was disqualified for stepping into another lane but she has appealed the decision. A jury decided against the disqualification, and reinstated her second placing in the event. - Moana Moeka’a: Cook Islands News
Last Modified on 27/09/2009 07:29