THE Sol2023 Pacific Games will see the crowning of a new 100m sprint king this evening at Honiara’s National Stadium, following the retirement of reigning champion Banuve Tabakaucoro.
The second of the semi-final heats was won by Wisil Pais by finishing with the time of 10.63 seconds while his country man Leroy Kamau qualified with 10.73 seconds and both are set to take on the tracks this afternoon.
Speaking to the Games News Services both runners said they need to work on few of their techniques to compete today.
“I need to work on my technique and focus on my preparation for tomorrow’s (today) final,” Wisil said.
“I need to have some good rest and we’ll see (how) it (goes) tomorrow (today).”
PNG’s Leroy Kamau also said he is set to make his mark.
“I have few things to take care of from today’s (yesterday) event and I’ll work it out tomorrow (today),” Kamau said.
Monday’s preliminary rounds and three semi-final heats reduced the field to nine 100m sprint finalists for the flagship event.
Samoa’s Jeremy Dodson, who won silver at the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games and came into Sol2023 as the favourite in the absence of Tabakaucoro, unfortunately suffered a hamstring injury in his semi-final heat which saw him unable to qualify for the final.
The finalists and their qualifying times are Lachlan Kennedy (Australia) who qualified in 10.53 seconds, Wisil (10.63), Kamau (10.73), Calab Law of Australia (10.66), Jonny Key of Samoa (10.75), Fiji’s Waisake Tewa (10.81), Tickie Terry Mael of Vanuatu (10.83), Hayato Yoneto of New Zealand (10.87) and Joshua Daudravuni of Fiji (10.92).
The men’s 100m final is set for 7:35pm today at the National Stadium. -Pacific Games News Service
