is running

Nadia (6 months pregnant) is running

ONE of the most suc cessful South Pacific athletes, Nadia Pra sad (nee Bernard), will compete in Port Moresby despite being six months pregnant. The New Caledonian middle and long distance

track sensation has confirmed her partici pation to Games officials although she is likely to rule out the shorter distances.

She is likely to compete in the 10,000 metres and the marathon and possibly the 3000 metres.The pace in the 800 and 1500 metres could prove too fast. In her first Games appearance in Apia in 1983, she won gold in the 1500 m (4:44.71) and 3000 metres (10:51.47). In the 1989 Tonga mini-Games she won three gold in the 1500 m (4:52.45), 3000 m (10:27.46) and 10,000, (39:48.42). At the Oceania championships last year she won the half marathon in Ihr 20.32 minutes.

She is studying at Cedar City, Utah, in the United States with her husband, Fiji 10,000 and marathon medal hope, Binesh Prasad. Despite her pregnancy, Nadia is still favourite to win the events she enters and add to New Caledonia’s expected dominance of athletics.

Another gold medal hope for New Caledonia is Ann Albertine, who had to pull out of the 1989 Tonga mini-Games injured. She will be favorite to win the women’s 100 and 200 metres although

tough competition is expected from Fiji

schoolgirl Vaciceva Tavaga who has been clocking fast times.

French-trained sprinter Albert Chambonier is a medal prospect for New Caledoia and he is expected to clash with Papua New Guinea’s Takale Tuna for the 100 metre title. Recently Chambonier beat members of athletics development squads in Australia and New Zealand.

After hosts PNG, New Caledonia have the next largest team as they chase their eighth consecutive Games win. They have won all the games except for the first one in Suva in 1963 wwhich Fiji won. As hosts for the last Games in 1987 they totalled an impressive 82 gold medals. Second place getters French Polynesia managed 35 gold. □