Rellie Kaputin Graduated
Rellie Kaputin has graduated from West Texas A&M University in the USA after a four and half year College programme which has seen her excell as a track and field athlete whilst completing her degree. Athletics PNG President Tony Green w
itnessed the graduation ceremony along with a number of Kaputin’s fellow PNG team members including Sharon Kwarula, herself a graduate from the same University. “Rellie’s parents couldn’t be there so it was great to see many of her friends there to celebrate her big day with her” said Green. We are all so proud of Rellie for what she has achieved, and make no mistake about it she has had to work incredibly hard to get this far. In PNG a lot of people believe that students have to sacrifice their sporting endeavours to be successful in school,but both Rellie and Sharon have shown that with determination
, hard work and sacrifice, the two can be combined.
During her four year Collegiate Athletic Career, Kaputin has won multiple National Titles and many other awards, as well as winning three gold medals at the 2015 Pacific Games and two gold and one silver at the Pacific Mini Games last year.She has also set many national records in the high jump, triple jump and long jump.Kaputin will remai
n in the USA for the summer before relocating to Australia in October where she will train with Coach Phillip Newton.Her aim is to focus on the long jump with the aim of qualifying by right to attend the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Athletics PNG and the PNG Olympic Committee are currently seeking a sponsor for Rellie to support her in this endeavour.
COOKS – ATHLETICS: COOK ISLANDS NEWS PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 21 May 2018
Olympic sprinter runs athletics training
RAROTONGA, 21 MAY 2018 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS)—The next generation of Cook Island sprinters were given valuable coaching from Olympian Patricia Taea. Organised by the Track and Field Club Rarotonga (TFC), Taea was at the BCI Stadium track, running two sessions for some of the island’s most talented youngsters. The Brisbane-based athlete is on the island for the next month, enjoying her off-season after competing at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April. Despite a low turnout, Taea said there is no doubt there is talent on Rarotonga. “They are a good bunch, an easy group of runners to train, and a lot of potential,” she said. “Definitely a lot of talent but what they do need is the extra push to eventually get better as well as some extra self-confidence. “Some of them didn’t think they could do what I was asking them, but after some positive encouragement they did it and they felt good afterwards. It probably didn’t feel good at the time but they pushed through.” Taea said she is happy to run further sessions while back on the island. “I want to give back and share a bit of what I know, what I’ve been taught and what works for me, and help the kids out in any way that I can.” Despite being in the off-season from competing, Taea is still hard at work training in what she describes as her “building season”. “The rain has kept me off the track the last few days so I have been in the gym instead. “In my preparation phase my reps are harder, distances harder, weights heavier – but that’s what it is all about.” Taea will next be in action in November when the athletics season starts in Australia…..PACNEWS
New Zealand’s North and South Colgate Games
