SIXTY-THREE athletes from Solomon Islands are now in Australia to train and participate in the country’s competitions as part of preparations for the 2023 Pacific Games.
A statement from Solomon Islands National Institute of Sports (SINIS) performance manager Jackie Travertz said the 63 athletes represent three sporting federations – athletics, triathlon and swimming.
Travertz said seven coaches and three support staff from SINIS physio and two strength and conditioning coaches made up the total number of the team representing Solomon Islands in Australia.
The first two federations’ athletes to leave the country were the swimming and triathlon athletes who have already started competing.
The final group of athletes representing the Athletics Federation (jumps, middle distance, sprints and throws) left on Sunday.
Travertz said athletics will be taking part at the Queensland State Championships which is on March 9 to 12 while the nation’s swimmers will be competing next week at the Gold Coast Championships from March 10 to 12.
The nation’s triathlon athletes, understood to be competing yesterday in Australia, will be heading to the Gold Coast to join the national swimmers.
On March 8, athletics athletes will be heading to Brisbane for the Queensland State Championships, leaving the national swimmers and triathlon at the Gold Coast.
According to Travertz, this is good for the athletes to attend the training camp and competitions as it will give their coaches a clear picture to where the athletes are at and what they need to improve on in the next six to seven months before the Pacific Games.
“So having competitions earlier gives us and the National Federation more time to see the areas for improvement and work on them leading into the Pacific Games. “There are a lot of challenges that we encountered on the preparations for this trip that they are going to, but we are glad that everyone was able to travel,” Travertz said.
“Most of these athletes are new but the main ‘rewarding’ part of this trip is for them to bring back their experience and see areas that they need to work on and pick up in the next six or seven months.
“Also assisting the coaches on ground in Australia we have some very high qualified coaches across the three sports doing some skills session with the athletes and coaches.
“As the performance manager for these three sports under Portfolio Three at SINIS, I am very proud of all the efforts the athletes have put since last year to earn a spot to travel. So I want to wish them the best and looking forward for them to bring back their experience for the rest of the athletes in the country.”
Solomon Islands athletes will be returning on March 14.
