PHNOM PENH ATHLETICS CLUB

photos courtesy of Alvie Kendrik and Neil Bianchi PPAC’s first sprint event and athletes match Paralympic qualifying times Athletes take to the start line for heat 1 of the 100m PPAC teamed up this week with the Paralympic athletes to organise a fun sprint session at the track. This was the first time that PPAC has done a 100 or 200m race, so it was great preparation for the upcoming CNTR 2020 final where participants will compete at the same sprint distances. Participants clapping as the event comes to a close You can see all the photos from the event on our Facebook page The 100m para heat gets underway In total we had 23 athletes competing overall, including CNTR athletes, guests and para-athletes including five wheelchair athletes in a record-equalling turnout for a PPAC-organised track event. The wheelchair athletes line up for the 100m with guest starter, international sprinter, Sokong After warming up we gathered the athletes and headed to the 20...

photos courtesy of Martin Kendrik Another track closure forces CNTR to incorporate stadium race into competition Runners closely bunched at the start of the race This Sunday we prepared for event 6 in the series of CNTR 2020 races, which was due to be the 3000m race on the track. However, we discovered early in the morning that the stadium was shut in preparation for an international club football match two days hence, so we quickly had to improvise and work out an alternative race plan for the group of athletes already waiting and warming up. Watch the full video of how the event went down here You can see all the photos from the event on our Facebook page After successfully measuring out the requisite starting point for a 3000m course using the stadium’s perimeter pedestrianised track we gathered the athletes and explained the situation. In fact we had two options: (1) do a 3000m race which would mean relocating athletes and equipment to a slightly awkwardly located ...

photos courtesy of Martin Kendrik Top 2 ease round well within their comfort zone Guest heat participants charge off the start line This week we were back on the track hosting the quintessential middle distance event - the 1500 m. Once again we invited guests to compete in a separate heat. The 1500 m is one of the historic track events having been a constant fixture at the Olympics since the first modern games in 1896. Athletes need to complete three and three quarter laps of the track in the ultimate test of speed and endurance. Watch the full video of how the event went down here You can also watch the guest heat here T o see all the photos from the event check out our Facebook page Race analysis In a fast start to the race, overall leader Neil Bianchi set a very quick pace completing the first ¾ lap (300 m) in 51.75 seconds just ahead of Bunthorn Chhun. Athletes banter at the start line after the race Paul, Neil and Jacob striding down the home strai...

photos courtesy of Tom Vosters Phnom Penh Athletics Club hosts Cambodia’s Next Top Runner 2020 Runners start the 5km road race Cambodia’s Next Top Runner (CNTR) is a competition organised by Phnom Penh Athletics Club (PPAC) to find out who is the best runner in Cambodia, combining long distance fitness, sprint speed and power, and middle-distance speed-endurance - and most importantly who has the dedication and commitment to turn up and complete the whole series of races. Our novel idea is to challenge all the runners over every track distance - to compare sprinters with long distance runners - in a single competition. The top runners chase the lead bike Full information and about the competition and PPAC can be found by: Subscribing to the YouTube channel and following the documentary series we’re creating: https://www.youtube.com/martinkendrik Liking and following the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cntr2020 Regularly visiting our website: https://cntr2...

photos courtesy of Tom Vosters PPAC hold first dedicated race whilst CNTR takes a week off This week the athletics track was closed for a kids’ football event – this is the first time that CNTR has been unable to use the track for its Sunday morning event, so a little improvisation was necessary. When there is a likely possibility of unforeseen difficulties outside of your control you need to have a backup plan. Every morning and evening (and even during the day) walkers and runners use the pedestrianised road way that circles the perimeter of the main stadium building infrastructure (that includes the stadium, tennis complex and the indoor arena). This loop is tarmacked roughly 75% of the way (except opposite the stadium entrance) and is divided down the middle by a solid yellow line, with vehicular traffic required to circulate anti-clockwise on the ‘outer’ side, at a speed of under 10km/h, and pedestrians on the ‘inner’ side of the line, circulating clockwise, with the sta...