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Rangamar completes 2 events in NZ
The CNMI’s Lia Rangamar, second right, and other participants in the Oceania Athletics Association IAAF Level II Throws Course listen to resource speaker Debbie Strange during one of their class sessions in New Zealand last week. (Oceania Athletic Association)
Multi-sport athlete Lia Rangamar is back on island after attending two Oceania Athletics Association-sponsored events in Auckland, New Zealand.
Rangamar participated first in the Women’s Leadership Seminar held on Nov. 2 and 3 before taking the OAA IAAF Level II Throws Course that ran from Nov. 4 to Nov. 10. The CNMI athlete was among the more than 10 individuals that completed both events.
“There’s so much knowledge that were passed around, both from the seminar and the coaches course. I came into these events with open ears and an open mind,” Rangamar said.
Olympian and world champion Dame Valerie Adams was one of the speakers in the leadership seminar and shared her experience on how a mother could still get involved in sports, compete, and excel.
For the throwing course, participants got helpful knowledge, both theoretical and practical, from renowned coaches Debbie Strange and Emily Nolan of New Zealand. The two resource speakers discussed the dynamics of shot put and javelin throws, the science behind them, and effective and efficient warm-up techniques.
Rangamar said the two events in New Zealand havesignificant important not only to her, but to the entire CNMI athletics program once the things she learned are passed on to coaches/teachers and applied to athletes.
“This is extremely useful for myself and more so for our athletes, young and old. The more coaches we have, the more opportunities we can create for CNMI athletes,” she said.
Meanwhile, OAA is calling all its member-federations to submit names of technical officials who would want to officiate three regional competitions next year.
The umbrella organization is looking for technical officials for the Oceania Area Championships that will run from June 25 to 28 in Townsville, Australia; the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa from July 15 to 20; and the Oceania Masters Championships in Mackay Australia from Aug. 31 to Sept. 7. OAA is now accepting letters of expression of interest and officials selected will be notified by Feb. 1, 2019.
