Snow Report: Throwback to Tonga 1998 – Memories & Medals

WORDS: Bob Snow
While living in Vanuatu in 1998, I did not have a challenging job. I was employed as a volunteer sent by the Australian Sports Commission to establish the Pikinini Sports programme in the country. I was paid a volunteers’ salary by the ASC but found that I was not really wanted by my Vanuatu hosts. They accepted me because I was “free” but were in no position to establish this very important programme. They gave me much freedom to become involved in Athletics in the country and I worked alongside President Jean Tranut and the Vanuatu Secretary, Sue Baereleo.  Vanuatu was not in any way likely to be able to establish Pikinini Sports. The Australian High Commissioner in Vanuatu was very annoyed that I had been sent to the country to work on a project that had no chance of success. Freedom beckoned.

During the year I had an opportunity to team with Athletics Vanuatu to stage an extremely successful Oceania Cup. It was the first such competition we had seen in the Pacific Islands. With lots of free time on my hands, I went to Tonga for the Grand Prix for the third of the series in Nuku’alofa (3 June 1998), following successful meets in Port Vila (23 May 1998) and Suva (29 May 1998). Later in the year I travelled once again to Nuku’alofa for the Oceania Senior and Junior (U20) Championships which were held on 27-28 August 1998.

The nations participating in the championship were – Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. At the time, Kiribati was not a member of the IAAF, and they participated in the competition as an “associate member”. The Kiribati Team was brought to Tonga by the late David Little.

The Championship was opened by His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, who spent much time in the grandstand watching the proceedings. His brother  watched two sessions of competition. The King was posthumously inducted into Tonga’s Sporting Hall of Fame in 2007. As a school student in Australia the King was an excellent Pole Vaulter. This probably explains why the Pole Vault is a common feature in Tongan Athletics competitions.

My full version of the results can be seen on the Oceania Athletics website at the following https://athletics-oceania.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/1998-Oceania-Championships.pdf

Below is a detailed Championship Report, done on returning to Vanuatu after the competition.

CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT

It was originally planned to have the Championships held in conjunction with the third Oceania Grand Prix Series at the beginning of June. At the eleventh hour, though, the Championships had to be postponed because of many of the countries north of the Equator could not make it to Tonga because of transport troubles.

The Championships were re-scheduled to 26 – 28 August and preparations once again got underway. As the event drew closer it was once again recognised that transport problems would make it impossible for some teams to attend the full three days of competition, so – again at the eleventh hour – the meet was condensed into two days of competition (August 27th and 28th).

One of the enduring memories of the Oceania Championships will be, unfortunately, transport problems. These problems are Pacific-wide and exist wherever you have small countries and airlines with a low carrying capacity, infrequent services and trouble getting spare parts.

Still, despite all of the airline problems, we were able to start the first event with the following countries in attendance Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji. Nauru, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, host nation Tonga, Vanuatu – and for the very first time Kiribati, who are continuing their re-emergence into regional and International sport. Some teams and athletes arrived at 2.00am on the day of competition, but they got there on time.

Because many of the teams were going from the Stadium to their accommodation and then to the airport on the Friday it was decided to hold the Welcoming Function and Farewell Function at the same time. The hullo-goodbye get together at the International Dateline Hotel was a big success and gave all of the teams the opportunity to mingle and get to know each other. Teams were arriving during the evening and some arrived more than 24 hours later. It could thus be said that teams were arriving after the farewell but were still able to compete!

Those who were unable to attend (or chose not to attend) were Guam, Northern Marianas, the Marshall Islands and American Samoa. The American Samoan Team evidently got as far as Apia and when there they got a storm warning in the area decided to return to Pago Pago!

It was disappointing that Guam did not attend as everyone was looking forward to hearing from them about next year’s Oceania Under 18 Championship. Guam will be hosting this meet in February, or March or April. In 1999 Guam will also be hosting the full South Pacific Games and this too was a topic of conversation on every island team’s agenda.

Many countries sent development squads to Tonga using the Oceania Championships as a suitable meet to blood new athletes with a view to building strong teams for Guam (1999SPG), Norfolk Island (2001 MSPG) and Suva (2003 SPG).

In the days leading up to the Championships, the wet and windy conditions gave much cause for concern. While the weather did not completely clear-up, the worst did not happen, and all events took place with the rain not playing a significant factor.

The official opening ceremony was a regal affair with King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV presiding. The brief ceremony finished in good time for the first event to get underway at 10.00am, right on schedule. The King honoured us with his presence for the first of the four sessions. The King’s brother also attended two of the sessions.

As always there was a problem getting competitive fields for the Open Women’s Division. Despite the fact that this is the IAAF Year of Women in Athletics, the situation has not improved at all. There was an average of fewer than 3 athletes per event until some junior athletes “doubled-up” with entry in the Senior Division as well as the Junior Division. (There was an average of only 2 island women athletes per event in the Open Division). Hopefully the SPG in 1999 will encourage renewed activity in women’s athletics in the islands.

Entries could have been greater, but countries were limited to entering 3 athletes per event and each athlete was limited to 3 individual events + relays. Still, in a two-day meet it would have been unwise to enter more than three individual events. As it was by the time of the relays some countries were unable to field teams because their athletes were either too tired or injured. Once again, the athletes were faced with a 6 lane track meaning that qualifying heats for the finals of the 200m and 400m were going to be cut-throat affairs.

The re-furbished Teufaiva Stadium was in very good condition and with the work done on the grandstand earlier this year it was a facility that Tonga can be proud of. A total of 23 Tongan All-Comers Records and 17 Championship Records were set during the two days.

Day One of Competition Jeffrey Bai stamped his authority on the OM 400m field from the beginning of heat 1. The PNG Junior thought that he could win the Open 400m and decided to “go-up” successfully. He won his heat by over 1.6 seconds (48.40) and the final by 1.9 seconds (48.36). The U20 Men’s and U20 women’s 400m were also won respectively by Fiji’s Remesio Namara (narrowly) and Vasiti Vatureba (very comfortably).

The OW 400m pitted the SPG Champion Mary-Estelle Kapalu (VAN) against the NZ #5 ranked runner Marissa Stephen. The Kiwi runner won in a year’s best time to move to #3 on the NZ List. Mary Kapalu also ran a season’s best benefiting from the strong competition. Strong competition produces good performances. Some of the best results came from the most competitive events where the athletes had to give of their best to win medals.

The 1500m races were a mixture of new and old faces. The Open Men’s was won by new-comer Peter Paul Enkae (VAN) who easily turned back the more experienced athletes Selwyn Kole (SOL) and David Kanie (PNG). The Open Women’s was predictably won by Salome Tabuatalei (FIJ) from Rosemary Omundsen (PNG). The U20 Men’s was won by Paul Hamblyn (NZL) from Gerard Harrison Solomon (VAN). The pick of the results was the fine win by Moana Burt (NZL) in the U20 event, Her 4:37.14 was a Tongan All Comers’ Record held by Nadia Bernard-Prasad set during the 1989 MSPG. In the 100m the real interest centred around the OM Division. Here we had Grand Prix winner Toluta’u Koula (TGA) v 1996 U20 Champion Wagui Anau (AUS) v Peter Pulu (PNG) who was thought to have at last found form and Gene Pateman (NZL). Add in Allan Akia (PNG) and Laurence Jack (VAN) and a good final was expected.

In the heats the winners were Peter Pulu (10.64) and Gene Pateman (10.58) both with legal tailwinds. In the final they were into a slight breeze, but the convincing winner was Peter Pulu from Pateman, Koula, Anau and Akia. The hand-held 10.4 Peter did in the PNG Nationals two weeks before looked to be the real thing.

One of the real stars of the meet was the winner of the OW 100m- New Zealand’s Nicola Kidd, who took home 5 gold medals. In the 100 she turned back Siulolo Liku (TGA) and team-mate Kelera Nacewa in a season’s best of 12.22. The U20 Men’s 100m was won stylishly by Fiji’s Saula Roko from New Zealand’s David Falealili (10.86 to 11.00). The U20m Women’s final was a NZLAUS affair with the medals going to Nicola Morris (NZL), Carly Cairns (AUS) and Tamsyn McGarva (NZL).

The sprint hurdles were won by Ivan Wakit (PNG) 15.10 (OM), Nicola Kidd (NZL) 14.36 (OW), Ah Chong S a m Chong (SAM) 15.74 (U20 M) and Cecile Tiatia (TAH) 15.96 (U20 W). The largest of the fields was found in the U20 Women’s race. In the three U20 Championships held so far there has never been a 100mH event for U20 W that has had a wind reading under 2.00mps. (Here the wind reading was +2.4mps). This event will go through to the next century without a record holder. The only other event without a record yet was the U20 M 200m • held on Day 2. Fortune smiled on that event this time. They didn’t have to wait for the new Millennium.

The OM 10000m was an easy win for PNG’s David Kanie who won by over 5 minutes from Niteshwar Prasad (FIJ). There were only two competitors. David Kanie is in very good form but may now have to wait until Guam next year to be really tested. (Possibly an outing at the Arafura Games in Darwin just prior to the Guam SPG will be what he needs).

Many island athletes lack high level competition to help them improve their standard. Oceania A.A.A. introduced the Grand Prix Series this year to help remedy the situation and it is hoped that all countries are able to fully support the Grand Prix Series and the Oceania Championships.

Big winner in the U20 Championships in Townsville and U18 Championships in Suva, Chris Votu (SOL) was known to be way down on his Grand Prix Form from May/June this year. He was still able to easily win the U20 M 3000m Steeple, though, with a time of 10:27.34. Second was Fiji’s school champion, Esala Talebula and third the Cook’s Teremoana Tangikara.

In the field events interest was centred around New Zealand’s Triple Jumper Kelera Nacewa who represented Fiji in the 1994 edition of these Championships. This year she is ranked #1 in NZ and she showed us why with a jump of 12.48m. Angela Way (PNG) making a return to the event gained the bronze (11.30m) after making us all think that she had abandoned the Triple Jump for ever.

The Women’s Hammer Throw is still new to most island nations and it was not surprising that the medals in the U20 W HT were shared between Australia (Sharyn Tennent – gold) and new Zealand (Michelle Phillips silver a n d S t a c e y Rogers bronze). It was good to see competitors from Tahiti, Fiji and Tonga in the event, though. The U20 W HJ was won impressively by Australian Vicki Collins with 1.80m. She won the OW HJ the next day too.

The OM SP was a clear win for Tristan Mave from New Zealand who got a big season’s best throw of 15.06m. It was good the way so many of the Kiwi’s managed to perform so much better here than they had in the NZ domestic season earlier this year. The way they peaked for this meet was truly impressive. (Australians gained the silver – Kevin Galea – and best of the islanders was 18-year-old Sosefo Fonorito from Fiji, who was close to his pb with a throw of 13.63m.

The U20 M HT saw Daniel Goulding (AUS) emerge a big winner with a throw of 53.32m to win from Marceliano Fiakaifonu (VAN) and Paul Niulala (TGA). Daniel was to gain the silver medal in the Open Division the following day. New Zealand sprinter, Gene Pateman, won the LJ with a jump of 7.13m from PNG’s Edward Bai and Samoa’s High Jumper, Benetti Schwalger. New Zealand’s Victoria Lowrie won the U20 W SP in a Championship Record of 12.94 to turn back Noella Flores (PYF) and Mele Hifo Uhi (TGA). Victoria was to gain thesilver medal the next day in the OW event.

In the absence of the main contenders, Tiffany Dudman (AUS) won the OW JT with a throw of 42.87m from Maria Livanawa Disolokai (FIJ) and Ariane Lusia Hema (TGA). With a throw of 42.37m Tiffany won the U20 W JT the next day. Hitting the board perfectly with her first jump, Samoa’s Lanuola Keil popped out a big NR of 5.76m in the U20 W LJ final. That was good enough to hold back the opposition and win for her Oceania Title #1. Australian High Jumper Vicki Collins was second with 5.30m and the Solomon Islands’ Miriam Waleilia third with 4.64m.

The U20 M JT was won by Sean Betland (AUS) with 60.31m narrowly turning back Josua Kuruyawa (FIJ) with 58.19m. This gold (and the silver in the OM JT) was some consolation for having a no height in the U20 M PV. The airlines were unable to take Sean’s pole to Tonga, and he had to borrow a pole that just did not suit him. Immediately following the U20 M JT came the OM’s event. Sean Betland (AUS) could only manage the silver (60.00m), having to settle for second behind Andrew Ratawa (FIJ) who was a late and unexpected addition to the Fiji Team. Andrew threw 66.94m. The bonze went to Josua Kuruyawa who won the silver in the U20 event.

Coming off an extremely good domestic season, Maria Livanawa Disolokai (FIJ), who had improved the Fiji NR five times this year, put the shot 13.23m with her first attempt and was never headed in the competition. She won the gold with a distance of 13.86m. Second was Victoria Lowrie (NZL) and third Fiji’s Ana Niumataiwalu.

The height of 1.95m was the order of the meet for the Men’s High Jump. Benetti Schwalger (SAM) won the OM HJ with this height from Fiji’s Robert Elder – also 1.95m. The next day all three medallists jumped the same height in the U20 Men’s event. With a jump of 13.95m, versatile Tongan jumper Piliote Hafoka won the gold in the U20 M TJ with 13.95m. Second was PNG hurdler Leroy Muriki and Fiji’s Timoci Tamani was third. Coming off his bronze in the OM SP earlier in the day, Mitchel Alatalo (AUS) threw 19cms further and gained the gold in the U20 M SP as the sun was starting to set. Fiji’s Sosefo Fonorito improved his earlier throw by 9cms to win the silver. Tonga’s Paul Niulala threw 13.43m to claim the #2 Tongan ranking for the year. Louise McNamara (AUS) won the U20 W DT with 40.02m from Noella Flores (TAH – 39.40) and the Cook Island’s Siniva Marsters with 38.12m.

Day Two of Competition

The second day started early with the Men’s and Women’s 10k Walk. In driving rain the officials made their way to the course alongside the Royal Palace. It was decided to be prudent and advise the palace guard that there would be a starting gun used to get the race underway! Angela Keogh (NFI) had a good workout for her Kuala Lumpur trip clocking 58:00. The Fiji duo Dip and Pradeep Chand were still feeling the effects of a 30k race five days earlier and decided it was not best to push things too hard as they also had KL on their mind. Manohar Maharaj (FIJ) gained his first Oceania bronze.

A bonus for all of those who braved the rainy / windy conditions to officiate are just watch was the sighting of two whales who were travelling along the coastline just outside of the reef. The morning track session started with the long elusive U20 M 200m Record. Jeffrey Bai (PNG) won his heat in 21.78 with a wind reading of onty +1.5mps. The other heat winners were David Falealili and Andrew Foster both of New Zealand. When Saulo Roko (the 100m winner) pulled-up with a hamstring injury in his heat it was obviously going to be a race in three.

In the afternoon final Jeffrey Bai won in 21.46 from David Falealili (21.50) and Andrew Foster (21.94). The wind was +3.0mps ruling out another CR. The OW 200m produced the best performance of the two day meet. New Zealand’s Anita Sutherland jumped from 5^th ranked in NZ to the top of the rankings with her 23.74 (+2.0mps). It was a very impressive performance. Second was 400m winner Marissa Stephen and third Australia’s Jennene Hansen.

Peter Pulu continued his return to top form with his fastest ever 200m – 21.22. Unfortunately, the wind was +3.5mps. Second again was Gene Pateman (21.32) and third Laurence Jack (VAN) 21.92. Nicola Morris (NZL) the 100m winner was the U20 W 200m champion, but was pushed quite hard by PNG’s Monica Jonathon who was having her best-ever day in athletics. Monica broke the PNG NJR in the semi-final (25.40) and then improved to 25.36 in the final to finish 8/100ths behind the gold medal winner. Third was 400m winner Vasiti Vatureba (FIJ).

The U20 W 3000m and the OW 5000m was run as a combined race. The cast was the same as the combined 1500m race the day before. The U20 event was won by Moana Burt (NZL) who once again broke the 1989 All Comers Record of Nadia Prasad. Sebiuta Senivetaukula came second to Moana for the second time in a row.

The OW 5000m saw Rebecca Rider (AUS) turning the tables on Salome Tabuatalei (FIJ) with once again Rosemary Omundsen getting the bronze. In the OW 400m Hurdles, New Zealand’s #1 ranked runner, Nicola Kidd predictably took the gold (58.80) from Vanuatu’s Mary-Estelle Kapalu (61.10). Mary-Estelle benefited from the competition in her preparation for Kuala Lumpur. Nicola took nearly a full second off her season’s best time.

‘Aleki Sapoi (TON), winner of the Arthur Eustace Award in the U18 Championship last year, continued to make good progress in the hurdles taking out the gold in the U20 M 400m Hurdles. He defeated Julien Crozet from French Polynesia and Samoa’s Niue Titi. Apikali Kainoco (FIJ) broke the Championship Record with her 63.74 in the U20 W 400m Hurdles relegating Cecile Tiatia (TAH) to the silver and Tonga’s Lata Manoa to the bronze. Apikali has been doing this event for only a year and has made good progress.

Reigning SPG Champion, Ivan Wakit (PNG) was unpressed to win the Men’s one-lap hurdles in 55.98. Tongans Taniela Lolohea and Sesi Salt gained the silver and bronze medals. Medley Laban (PNG) won his first ever gold medal in the OM 3000m Steeplechase with a big victory over Fiji’s Sisari Vakasuka and Niteshwar Prasad.

In the field events the day opened with the U20 M Long Jump. In his third jump Tokaikolo Latapu (TGA) jumped 6.53m to take the lead. On his 4th jump he injured his hamstring and passed the remaining jumps. He had to watch from the sidelines to see if his lead would hold. Hold it did until the last round when Harmon Harmon (COK) jumped one centimetre further to claim the gold. Third was Australia’s Damien Daly. Later in the day Tokaikolo did what was necessary to claim the gold in both the OM PV and the U20 M PV. Once the gold had been secured he withdrew from the contest to spare his hamstring further damage.

Tonga is the only island nation that has the pole vault as part of its school programme. When it was seen that there no entries for the U20 W PV two Tongan athletes were persuaded to prepare for the event to see if they could break the modest South Pacific Best performance of 1.60m. Lesilei Halafihi rose to the challenge and starting at 1.40m she raised the bar successfully to 1.85m before fouling out at 1.90m. It is expected that Tonga will encourage more young women to take-up this event and eventually introduce it to their inter-schools’ programme. If they do, they should dominate SP W PV competitions for years to come.Special mention must be made of ‘Isapella Hopoi, who although she did not register a height in the contest, was brave enough to make the attempt. Well done. In the OM HT the favourite was Brent Jones (NFI) who had thrown over 57m this year. Brentt had a injured calf muscle, though, and was in no position to give it his all. Brentt threw the 7.26kg hammer 53.60m with his first effort and then had to see if that was enough to hold up for the gold. It was, but Junior Champion Daniel Goulding came close with his 4^th throw – 52.18m. Third was Charles Winchester (COK) with a throw of 40.15m.

The OW HT was again a NZ – AUS struggle with no island athletes participating. Lisa Misipeka is ranked in the top ten in the world, but she is a product of the US College system and it will take a long time for the Women’s Hammer to become a common event in the islands. Belinda King (NZL) won the event with 49.60 – only 6cms down on her season’s best. Second was Michelle Phillips (NZL) with 46.42m and third Sharyn Tennent (AUS) 45.79m.

Home-town favourite Siulolo Liku had to be content with two silver medals on the first day behind New Zealand’s Nicola Kidd. On day two, though, she had her main event – the Long Jump – and she made the most of her opportunity. Her first jump was a foul, but on her second she went 6.01m (+0,4mps) and the gold and Tongan All-Comers Record was hers. New Zealand’s Kelera Nacewa was second (5.69m) and Marica Likulewadua from Fiji was third (5.32m).

The 800m events were held in the afternoon session. The OM’s race was won by Mark Gunther (AUS) from Junior runner Sisari Vakasuka (FIJ) 1:56.96 and the Solomon’s Selwyn Kole. The OWs event went to Salome Tabuatalei (FIJ) from Mary-Estelle Kapalu (VAN). The U20 M’s race went to Paul Hamblyn (NZL), who completed the middle distance double, from Harrison Solomon (VAN) and Niue Titi from Samoa. The U20 W’s went to Kirsty Turnbull (NZL – 2:15.60) from Australia’s Kate McMaster and Elsie Daiwo of the Solomon Islands.

The U20 W TJ was comfortably won by Sarah Sydney (AUS) with 12.43m • an improvement of 33cms on her performance in the OWs event the day before. The minor medals went to Tonga’s Lata Manoa (10.71m) and PV winner Lesieli Halafihi (10.60m). Daniel Goulding (AUS) added gold in the U20 M DT to his gold in the U20 HT and silver in the OM HT. Daniel threw the discus 40.45m ahead of the two Fiji athletes who had a good tussle before Sosefo Fonorito (37.49m) emerged withthe silver and Pio Fihaki (37.25m) got the bronze.

All three medal winners jumped 1.95m in the U20 M HJ, with the order being Ben Roper (NZL), Robert Elder (FIJ) and Piliote Hafoka (TON). Ben Roper went clear until his three failures at 2.00m. Maria Livanawa Disolokai (FIJ) added an OW DT gold to that for her SP. In a tight contest she threw 40.75m to narrowly defeat Helen Wallis (40.50m) and Louise McNamara (39.76m) both of Australia. It was gold #2 for Tristan Mave (NZL) as he added the DT gold to his one from the SP the previous day. With a distance of 46.58m he was well clear of Charles Winchester (COK – 43.13m) and Kevin Galea (AUS – 40.16m). Cook

Islands NR holder in this event – Robert McNabb – had to return to the Cook Islands prior to the competition after his father was badly injured in a motor car accident. We wish Mr McNabb a speedy and complete recovery. The OM TJ was a non-event with only one competitor Edward Bai (PNG) took one jump – 12.76m – to collect the gold and then departed for relay duties which netted him two more gold. Not bad for an hour’s work!

To split up the relays and allow those who were doubling to have some rest, the 5000m was held between the 4 x 100m and the 4 x 400m. The OM Division was won easily by David Kanie (PNG) from 1500m winner Peter Paul Enkae (VAN) and Australia’s Andrew Keane. The U20 M’s race was to give Chris Votu (SOL) his second gold for the meet with the silver going to PNG’s Samuel Solomon and the bronze to Chris Saeni (SOL).

PNG won both of the OM relays, giving them a total of 11 gold medals for that division. The most excitement, though, was created by Palau who following on from their sprint domination of the Micronesian Games, came home second

in the OM 4 X 100m to win the silver medal. The OW Relays were dominated by New Zealand who won both gold medals, creating new Championship and Tongan All-Comers Records in the process. In the U20 M’s division the relays golds were split by New Zealand (4 x 100m) and Fiji (4 x 400m). In the U20 W division host Tonga was a very popular winner of the 4 x 100m with New Zealand (with the first two legs being run by shot putters) incredibly getting the bronze. The 4 x 400m was won by Fiji from Tonga, but the third across the line – Federated States of Micronesia – were unfortunately disqualified and were thus not able to take home their only medal of the Championships.

With the 76 events being compressed into two days of competition there was always the likelihood that the medal ceremonies would run a bit behind. This they did. Under lights, the ceremonies concluded at approximately 8.30pm, but by that stage many were no longer there to collect their medals as they were on their way to the airport for the first flight out to the rest of the world. Air transport played a big part in the Championships from way before the beginning until six days after the event when the last teams were able to depart for home. The hosts and Oceania are not to blame for these transport problems- they will always happen when you have big events in small islands. The Solomon Islands experienced it recently with their 20th Independence Anniversary Celebrations and

Samoa is having some trouble with incoming flights for their cultural festival that is starting as I write this report. Now the bids are coming in for the next Oceania Under 20 and Open Athletics Championships. Where will they be? Probably we will know by the time of the February O.A.A.A. Meeting in Sydney.

Thanks go to all those officials who volunteered their time to help make the Championships such a big success. To the local Tongan volunteers and those from overseas a big Malo ‘Aupito.

I would also like to thank the Gang of Four from Tassie for providing us with a steady flow of results. The attached full results (see the link to the OAA website) have been compiled from results provided by Chris, Brendon, Shaun and Joanne.

(The above detailed report of the two days of competition was put together once I arrived back in Vanuatu, to my home at the Vanuatu Teachers’ College. They were part of my Pacific Islands Athletics Statistics # 6/98 and were sent by post or fax machine to all who attended, plus the IAAF, the Association of Track and Field Statisticians (Paul Jenes) and Tony Isaacs (in Britain). Internet for me did not come until later. It was available in Vanuatu, but the expense was mind-numbing!

—ENDS—