Team Polynesia ready for the Oceania Cup showdown in Nuku’alofa

Team Polynesia will step onto the track in Nuku‘alofa, Tonga, with a squad of record breakers, Pacific Mini Games champions, and international representatives ready to make their mark at the Oceania Cup. The team-based competition will test the region’s best athletes as they compete for points across track and field against Micronesia, Polynesia, Tonga, Australia, New Zealand, Regional Australia, and Hawaii.

Leading the charge in the sprint events is Johnny Key (Samoa), who represented his country at the World Indoor Championships earlier this year. A “key “member of Samoa’s medal-winning 4x100m relay teamat thePacific Mini Games in Palau.

From the Cook Islands, Samasoni Hewitt has already written himself into the history books as the first athlete from his nation to clear two metres in the high jump. The national record holder soared to gold in Palau, and will be one to watch amongst the rising tide of High Jumpers in the Oceania Area. Fellow Cook Islander Estelle Short, recently returns from the World Athletics Championships, running the 100m on debut.

Kiara Gilroy will look to continue her momentum after storming to gold in the 100m hurdles in Palau.

.Polynesia also boasts multi-event talent in Jacques Temarii, French Polynesian decathlete, who has been rewriting his own personal records throughout 2025. The young gun is on the rise and National Record Holder for Decathlon in French Polynesia

In the throws Iorana Tuafafo Tafili (Samoa), the national hammer throw record holder and gold medallist in Palau, will step into the circle.

On the youth front, Ana Ellison-Lupena represents the next generation. Fresh from competing at the World Athletics U20 Championships, Ana joins Iorana in the throws events in Nuku’alofa.

Team Polynesia sees international representatives Mihivai Atrewe (PYF), Felice Covillion (PYF)  Angele Richard (PYF) Hailey Gilroy (PYF) Alessa Llerena Soulie (PYF) Maika Fred Pedro (SAM) complete the team across the track and field. Experienced campaigners Pol-Elie Raoult (PYF) and Nathaniel Sulupo (SAM) bring years of international experience to the team.

The team will be managed by Marie Williams (Cook Islands) and Ah Chong Sam Chong (Samoa), bringing a depth of experience as former athletes, now coaches and managers to lead Team Melanesia at the Oceania Cup in Tonga.

The Oceania Cup runs from 29^th October to November 1^st at Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku’alofa Tonga.

Team Polynesia has no Tongan Athletes. Team Tonga will field their own team as the host country.

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The Oceania Cup 2025 & Oceania Athletics Masters Cup & Oceania Cup Junior and Para Invitation is an exciting athletics event bringing together the best of Pacific athletics across Senior, Junior, Para, and Masters divisions. Held from October 29 to November 1 in Nuku‘alofa, Tonga, the event features a team-based Senior competition with regional squads from Australia, New Zealand, Regional Australia, Tonga, Hawaii, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Alongside the elite action, rising stars (U16–U20), para-athletes, and Masters (30+) competitors will take the stage, in a high energy, International Competition in the heart of Tonga.