Athletics Federation for the 2008 Oceania Under 18 and Open Area Championship and 2008 Oceania Grand Prix Series from June 21 to 28.
The IAAF, according to local organizing committee chairman Rep. Ramon Tebuteb has funded $10,000 for the certification of the track and field.
The Class 2 certification, Tebuteb said is a high level one and almost the same with the Class 1 certification used in Olympics, except for the condition of grass in the field.
The standard measurements of Class 1 and Class 2, he said are basically the same. They differ only in the kinds of materials used in the track and the quality of grass and the dirt underneath.
Even the location and the position of the track and field, the wind factor and even the climate are considered in classifying such kind of sports facility.
Yvonee Mullins executive director of Oceania Athletics Association and the first two officials to arrive on the island said in an interview on Friday that the survey conducted for the certification of the track and field went well, although they expected “something that would be little bit of a problem.”
When Matthew Cohen whom the OAA contracted to survey the track and field, started his work last week, he found that the 100-meter track was actually 100 meters and 3.28 centimeters long.
Cohen, according to Mullins fixed it already as he added it to his report.
“It is not unusual for the track to be certified,” Mullins said explaining that it is necessary for the validity of whatever new records are set in the world class event.
Tebuteb for his part pointed out that if one of the athletes that competed Oceania tournaments eventually breaks a record of the world fastest man for example, that will not be accepted by the IAAF if it finds out that the track and field facility is not certified.
So it is very important for the NMI and the Oceanian athletes to have the facility certified.
Cohen of Trackmaster International Limited has also updated the 50-millimeter markings along the track. He said the standard and rules in the track changes every after a few years.
In the old rules for the relay zones for example, the toes of the athletes can rest towards the trailing edge of the 50-millimeter marking while getting ready for action.
Now for the IAAF 2008 rules, athletes should put their toes before the leading edge of the marking.
Cohen who prepared the track for the South East Asian Games in Thailand and Asian Games in Doha left the day after he finished with his work and had already submitted his report to OAA.
It’s 99 percent ready.
