Masters, Para and Invitational Athletes Shine on Final Day in Nuku‘alofa

The final day of competition in Nuku‘alofa saw the spotlight turn to the Masters, Para, and Invitational athletes, who closed out the Oceania Cup and Oceania Masters Championships with strong performances across the track and field.

The morning opened with the 5000m, where Krista Hawley (Northern Mariana Islands) and Tevita Taufaloa (Tonga) claimed line honours in their respective races.

In the Para sprints, Jimi Onitoro (Fiji) took the win ahead of Zac Harding (Australia) in the 100m, before the pair reversed positions in the 400m, with Harding crossing first to secure the gold.

The Masters 60m produced entertaining contests. Dash Newington (Great Britain) lived up to her name, taking the overall win in the women’s event, while Etimoni Timuani (Tuvalu) claimed victory in the men’s race. In the Invitational 60m, Tonga took the women’s title over Samoa, while in the men’s race, Oceania Cup athletes Johnny Malua (Samoa) and Winzar Kakiouea (Nauru) battled to the line, with Malua taking the win.

In the Masters 400m, Australia’s Lee-Anne Nelson held off Newington to take the women’s title, while Taufaloa (Tonga) added to his earlier success by winning the men’s event. The Invitational 400m saw rising star Hinavai Janicaud (French Polynesia) take the women’s win, while Richard Sulifoa crossed first in the men’s race.

Australia’s Anne Weekes continued her dominance in the distance walks, taking victory in both the 3000m and 5000m Race Walk events.

On the field, Samson Hewitt (Cook Islands) impressed in the Men’s Invitational High Jump, clearing 1.80m in the Under 20 division. Naibili Vatunisolo (Fiji Paralympian) was in a class of her own in the Para Shot Put, winning by nearly five metres.

In the Masters throws, Althea Mackie (Australia) returned to the top of the podium in the Women’s 30–59 Weight Throw, with teammate Glenys Whitehead winning the 60+ division. Wesley Faaui (Cook Islands) took home gold in the Men’s event.

The program concluded with the 1000m Sprint Medley Relay, where the home crowd celebrated as Team Tonga claimed victory to close out the competition in style.

📊 Full Results: athleticsoceania.anet.live/meets/58216

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