SNOW REPORT: DAY 2 Pacific Mini Games Recap
WORDS: BOB SNOW

In the early afternoon, with the sun burning down on the stadium, we started the second day of the multi-events and our second day of competition.

The overnight multi leaders were Reki Roberts (FIJ – 2389 points in the Heptathlon) and Wasele Inoke (FIJ – 2977 points in the Octathlon). The Octathlon is frequently used in the Pacific Games when the Pole Vault is not available to stage the ten event Decathlon.

After a clear win in the 110m Hurdles, Waisele Inoke (FIJ) was making it hard for the other competitors to deny him the gold medal. We will see how it goes in the next three events.

One member of the Octathlon field, Jonah Harris (NRU), was their top sprinter for many years. He represented Nauru at the World Indoors, World Juniors and Commonwealth Games all in 2018, 2019 World Championships and the 2020 Olympics. Taking a break from Athletics he trained as an airline pilot. Today he continues flying and has returned to represent Nauru in Athletics.

PNG’s Karo Iga won the Decathlon in the Honiara Games (2023).

 In the Women’s Heptathlon, Reki Roberts (FIJ) has made it very difficult for the other competitors to take the gold from her. Stay tuned.

Reki consolidated her position with a good 5.46m in the Long Jump – ahead of her rivals. Raylyne Kanam (PNG) clawed back some points in the Javelin, but it would be too much to ask for her to bridge the gap with her 800m run. She did not.

Reki Roberts (FIJ – 4250 points) won the seven discipline Heptathlon, from Raylyne Kanam (PNG – 3816 points) and the bronze medal winner was Manatu Hafoka (TGA – 3228 points).

The heats of the Men’s 400m were cut-throat. Only the first in each heat automatically advanced to the final with the next two fastest times. PNG won three of the heats and NCL the fourth. The fastest to get to the final were Adolf Kauba (PNG – 48.69), Daniel Baul (PNG – 48.78), Jeremiah N’Godrela (NCL – 49.38) and Johnny Bai (PNG 49.50). Things are looking good for the PNG  4 x 400m Relay

After the Men’s 400m heats, the heavens opened yet again and brought driving rain.

The heats of the women’s 400m had the same qualifying system – only the first in each heat automatically qualified for the final – and the next three fasted times. Again, it was Fiji and PNG who dominated the finalists’ list – Heleina Young (FIJ – 58.34 seconds), Joy Tieba (PNG – 59.45 seconds), Naibena Tuilawaki (FIJ – 59.62) and  Patricia Kuku (PNG – 60.22 seconds). It was good to see Helena Young back to our sport after a short time with Rugby.  She looked good in winning her heat.

The Semi-Finals for the Women’s 100m saw the rain ease. Humidity must be close to 100%. The fastest in the semis were – Isila Apkup (PNG – 12.20 seconds), Kayedel Smith (AUS – 12.23 seconds), Sera Nasilivata (FIJ – 12.25 seconds) and Evelyn John Jimmy (AUS – 12.39 seconds). The final promised to be a nail-biter. (Spoiler alert – it was).

The Men’s 100m Semi-Finals saw the three semi winners – Pais Wisil (PNG – 10.59 seconds), Timothy Tuna (PNG – 10.68 seconds) and Waisake Tewa (FIJ – 10.74 seconds) all qualify for the final, along with Micahel Alofokhai (AUS), Winzar Kakiouea (NRU) and Emmanuel Anis (PNG).

Sweet Caroline came out a bit scratchy and disappointing over the public address system, but the crowd joined in, and I am sure one member of Oceania Athletics was smiling. Hey – I was, and also chanting.

Soane Meissoner (WAF – F20) was a huge winner in the Ambulant Para Men’s Shot Put. He threw 16.51m to get a score of 95.48%. Outstanding. The silver medal went to Donald Laeta (SOL – F44) with throw of 9.14m and a score of 58.10%. the bronze medal went to Junior Dennis (PNG – F46) with a throw of 9.42m and a score of 56.07%.

In the Men’s Shot Put, the Wallis & Futuna athlete, Steven Mailagi (18.72m) was a convincing winner. Nauru’s Jonathan Detageouwa was second (17.19m) and Tapuakitau Lakalaka (WAF), with a throw of 15.30m was third.

The Women’s Para Javelin final was won by Naibili Vatunisol (FIJ – F42) with a throw of 21.96m with a score of 69.69%. Silver went to Regina Edward (PNG – F44) with 29.23m and a score of  67.78%, and the bronze went to Manega Tapari (PNG – F46) and a throw of 26.15m and a score of 57.18%.

The Octathlon 1000m was a real nail-biter. In second place was PNG’s Karo Iga, several hundred points behind the leader, Waisele Inoke of Fiji. Karo built up a huge lead which he increased through the race, but all to no avail. It was too late and Waisele won the gold by over 200 points.  A good contest.

The medal winners were Waisele Inoke (FIJ – 5241 points), Karo Iga (PNG – 5019 points) and Jonah Harris (NRU – 4175 points)

Scholastica Herman (PNG – 2:16.41) was a convincing winner of the 800m from Adi Ceva Lutumailagi (FIJ – 2:18.47) and Jordan Baden (GUM – 2:18.68). There was a large field of 14 in this final, and mercifully nobody was tripped and have their race seriously spoiled. It has happened in the past with fields of this size.

The Men’s 800m was another winner for PNG with Jiuteis Robinson having his first win outside of PNG with the time of 1:52.56, comfortably ahead of Steven Rahuasi (SOL – 1:53.50) and Adolf Kauba (PNG – 1:54.39). This field was smaller than was the women’s race – only 10 competitors.

The Para Wheelchair race for Men used local wheelchairs and no super-crafted ones to give the athletes a super-charged advantage. Good to see. All had the same wheelchairs, that are similar to the ones I need at airports! The winner was Morea Mararos (PNG – T/F34) with a time of 37.83 seconds (38.22%) from his teammate Jerome Bunga (PNG – F57) and a time of 39.45 seconds (34.55%). Winning the bronze medal was Christian Chee Ay Yee (PYF – F56) with a time of 42.95 seconds (31.73%).

With all the competitors having the same non-racing quality wheelchair, we had a fair race. In Honiara, the winner had a very high quality, and expensive, wheelchair that gave him a massive advantage over the other competitors.

It will be interesting to see if this event remains on the Pacific Games list of events for the next Games in French Polynesia/Tahiti in two years’ time.

To. Bring Day Two to a spectacular close we had the finals of the Women’s and the Men’s 100m.

In a photo finish the winner of the Women’s 100m was Australia’s Kayedel Smith (12.16 seconds) from PNG’s Isila Apkup (12.17 seconds) and Fiji’s Sera Nasilivata (12.20 seconds).

The Men’s 100m was also close, but Pais Wisil (PNG – 10.51 seconds) was a clear winner from his teammate Timothy Tuna (PNG – 10.53 seconds). Waisake Tewa (FIJ – 10.60 seconds) won the bronze medal.

See how these male and female sprinters go in the 200m. Their heats are to be held on Monday afternoon when the field of 31 in the Men’s event, and the field of 21 in the Women’s event will be reduced to give us the lineupsi  for the semi-finals on Tuesday afternoon.