SNOW REPORT: DAY 1 Pacific Mini Games – Morning Session
WORDS: BOB SNOW
DAY ONE – SESSION ONE OF COMPETITION
The officials arrived at the track at 5.00am to get everything ready for the first events – the Men’s and the Women’s 10000m, which were due to commence at 6.00am. Twenty minutes before the starter’s gun was due to get the first race underway, the heavens opened and down it came.
No to worry. This is the Pacific Ocean, and our weather patterns are a wonder to behold. Heavy rain can come along at any time. And it does.
The Men’s 10000m had Guam’s Hugh Kent as a firm favourite, and he managed to go to a very significant early lead. Eventually the large pack caught up with him, but Hugh was just in cruise control. Towards the end of the event, he once again broke away to be a convincing winner in 33:03.34 with Junior Geejay (SOL – 33:14.03) and Siune Kagl (PNG – 33:23.87). There were ten finishers.
If Hugh competes in all the events in which he is entered, he will qualify for the Superman award. At present he is entered in the 1500m, 5000m, 10000, Half Marathon & 4 x 400m Relay. This is quite a lot for a 19-year-old.
During the day I met with one of the athletes for whom I have the greatest regards – Alain Lazare. He reminded me that in 1987 he won the 800m, 1500m, 3000m Steeplechase, 5000m, 10000m and the Marathon all in the one week. At least Team New Caledonia did not recruit him for the 4 x 400m Relay.
The Women’s 10000m had a strong favourite in Tania Tan (NMI) who blew away all the opposition in the distance events in the Honiara Pacific Games in 2023. True to form Tania had a good battle with New Caledonia’s Natalia Prado Alfonso, but in the final stages Tania broke away to be an easy winner. Natalia was quite distressed at the end of the race, but she did have a silver medal. The times were Tania Tan (38:03.57), Natalia Prado Alfonso (38:29.15) and Louise Grosgogeat (PYF – 39:48.01).
In time for the heats of the Men’s 400m Hurdles, the rain ceased. PNG qualified their three runners for the final (Daniel Baul (53.76), Sialis Passingan (53.76 seconds) & William Peka (53.64 seconds). The other finalists are Ratu Meli Romuakalou (FIJ – 56.05 seconds), Jeofry Limtiaco (GUM – 59.49 seconds) and Simon Tang (NMI – 60.97 seconds).
The Women’s and the Men’s Hammer Throw got the field events underway. The Women’s medallists were Iorana Taufafo Tafili (TGA – 54.13m), Natasha Lynch (AUS – 53.43m) and Emily Thomas (AUS – 52.75m).
The medal winners in the Men’s Hammer Throw were Lyle Pedro Andrew (NMI – 33.06m), Glen Finau (FIJ – 29.63m) and Alonzo Acosta (GUM – 23.62m). It is unusual to have no competitors from the Francophone world in this event. They have dominated the event since 1963 winning every Pacific Games gold, and eight of the 11 times they have won the Mini Games gold, too.
The Women’s Heptathlon got underway this morning. After the 100m Hurdles and the High Jump. The leading athletes after the two events were Reki Roberts (FIJ – 1111 points), Manatu Hafoka (TGA – 1061 points), and ‘Ofa Tu’ifua (TGA – 1031 points).
The Men’s Octathlon had two events, the 100m and the Long Jump. After these events the leading trio were Waisele Inoke (FIJ – 1735 points), Karo Iga (PNG – 1496 points) and Jonah Harris (NRU – 1423 points).
The two multi-events will continue in the afternoon session.
The full results of the competition will be found on the Oceania Athletics website.