By Shane Saroya – EM TV Sport, Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea and Ipswich teenage sprint sensation Miriam Peni is setting her sights on the Queensland Junior Athletics Championships after she won gold at the annual Australia Day Gift sprint on the Gold Coast.
Peni represented the Ipswich District Atletic Club and won in 13.53 sec, running the 120m off a handicap of 8.5m in front of a packed crowed
The 16-year old surge passed Michelle Mackey and held off Papua New Guinea‘s elite sprinter, Toea Wisil, to make it her second win in 14 months having won the 110m Noosa Gift Ladies Invitation in 2014.
Peni says she’s been training and working very hard on her technique for sprints lately and only took part in the championship to see how well she could run, but to her surprise she came first.
The Commonwealth Games prospect had a year to remember in 2015, winning silver in U16 100m at the Australian Junior Track and Field Championships and making the final of the 100m and 200m while representing PNG at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa and 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby.
Determined to improve her times, Miriam worked hard with her coach, Vic Pascoe, in the lead-up to the Gold Coast Gift.
Miriam will now focus on the Queensland Junior Athletics Championships, where she hopes to make strong improvements on the track and qualify for nationals.
Her current personal best in 100m is 12.26sec and 25.19sec in 200m.
Peni Said, she felt she could get faster and she will have that opportunity to prove that at the Queensland titles and hopefully come away with medal.
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