By Michelle Jerewai and Phylma Timea, Port Moresby 2015 Games News Service
PORT MORESBY, July 8 – New Caledonia claimed three golds, one silver and three bronze medals on the second night of swimming at BSP Arena on Tuesday.
Twenty-three year old Lara Grangeon (NCL) added two golds to New Caledonia’s medal tally in the women’s 200m freestyle and 200m breaststroke.
She also set a new Pacific Games record of 2 minutes, 3.77 seconds in the women’s 200m freestyle, beating her own previous record set at Noumea 2011.
“It was a great event and it feels great to win,” Grangeon said. “I’m very happy to be part of this team.”
Emma Terebo (NCL) claimed another gold for New Caledonia in the women’s 50m backstroke, also setting a new Pacific Games record of 29.18 seconds.
While New Caledonia collected a total of seven medals, Papua New Guinea claimed one gold, two silver and two bronze.
Ryan Pini opened the hosts’ medal haul in the men’s 100m butterfly, setting a new Pacific Games record of 53.42 seconds, six hundredths of a second faster than the previous best.
“I am very proud to be competing on my home soil and I know I did PNG proud,” Pini said.
“I am getting old and it will be hard for me to keep training. I will still compete but not at this level. This is my last Pacific Games, I know that I have aged but I am doing my very best.”
Guam’s Benjamin Schulte snatched gold in the men’s 400m individual medley in a tight race against Brandon Schuster (SAM).
In the night’s final race, Tahiti took the honours in the men’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay. New Caledonia finished six seconds behind them to claim silver, and PNG won bronze.
Swimming continues on Wednesday evening at BSP Arena with seven medal events.
GNS mj/pt/jl for more information visit www.portmoresby2015.com
