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Omar, Rangamar off to Moscow
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Posted on Mar 08 2006
Speedster Tyrone Omar embarked on what he expects to be an exciting learning experience as he and coach Elias Rangamar boarded a plane Tuesday night and are headed to Moscow for the 11th IAAF World Indoor Championships.
The Championships will be held from March 10-12 featuring world-class athletes from the United States, Kenya, Japan, Sweden, Spain, and China, among the many others, and will serve as Omar’s first official off-island track and field meet. It will also serve as the first time Omar will compete in an indoor track event.
“I’m excited about it, but I heard that even though it’s indoor, it will still be cold so we’ll see if I’m going to be able to really get warmed up for the race,” he said while awaiting their departure time at the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport.
The 18-year-old student, who now holds the Micronesian Athletics Championship 200m record, will soon be setting up his blocks at the starting line of the 60m sprint.
It will also be the first time Omar will compete in the 60m event, however, the shorter distance may serve as an advantage for him.
“It’s shorter…I’m better off the blocks,” he said during an earlier interview, citing that his strength is the 100m sprint, which he normally competes in, is the start off. “I feel more comfortable in the start.”
Since the MAC last December, which he won gold in the 200m sprint, silver in the 100m, and bronze in the medley relay, Omar has been focused on the 60m event, training six days a week under the guidance of Rangamar and coach Robin Sapong.
Meanwhile, the indoor competition will also be the first for Rangamar, who will also serve as coach for the Pacific Oceania delegation, which will consist of eight or nine members.
“This will give Tyrone the exposure and experience in running with the best in the world,” Rangamar said earlier. “He’s very explosive off the blocks, and I doubt if he’ll win, but I’ll guarantee he won’t come in last. He’s pretty quick so he’ll do good.”
“While running against the best in the world, he’s going to watch, meet, and talk with some at the start and hopefully pick up a few things,” Rangamar added.
