The Oceania Cup – From 2001 to 2025 – WORDS BOB SNOW

Bob Snow (Life Member OAA & World Athletics Veteran Pin recipient) has been a long-serving supporter, statistician and historian of athletics across the Pacific, his dedication has helped preserve the stories, performances, and people who have shaped athletics in our region. From documenting results and records, Bob’s contribution has ensured that Oceania’s athletic history is captured and celebrated.

Port Vila – 2001

In an effort to increase competition for the Island athletes, and to further embrace Australia and New Zealand into the Oceania Athletics’ Family, it was decided to hold a teams’ competition and name it the Oceania Cup.

The first edition of the Cup was held in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu. It was held on the 14th July. Despite not being in the Oceania Athletics area of control, there were competitors from New Caledonia competing as “guests”. French Polynesia / Tahiti belonged to OAA, and they could also celebrate Bastille Day with their New Caledonian friends – rivals. There were seven teams vying for the Cup. There were no individual medals, just the constantly changing point score.

Many names, who were familiar to the local Vanuatu crowd, were Peter Pulu (MEL/PNG), ‘Aleki Sapoi (POL/TGA), David Karnie (MEL/PNG), Tutea Degage (POL/TAH), Stephane Goubairate (NCL), Jean-Pierre Totele (NCL), Latai Sikuvea (POL/TGA), Ann Mooney (MEL/PNG), Sisilia Dauniwe (MEL/FIJ), Vaite Bonhoure (POL/TAH), Angela Way (MEL/PNG), Temoemoe Faremiro (POL/TAH), ‘Ana Po’uhila (POL/TGA) and Marie-Christine Fakate (NCL).

New Caledonia were competing by invitation. It was a great opportunity for their athletes to get good Pacific competition.

These names were familiar to the rest of the Islanders because they had known of their performances in the South Pacific Games and Mini Games. The athletes from Australia and New Zealand were new to most of the people who attended the Cup at the stadium in Port Vila. They were good, however, and in the final point score they came out on top.

The Final Point Score was –

  1. Australia                    119 points
  2. New Zealand            89 points
  3. New Caledonia         81 points
  4. Polynesia                   77 points
  5. Melanesia                  76 points
  6. Vanuatu                     40 points
  7. Micronesia                 32 points

Two years later, as a good warm-up for the 12th South Pacific Games in Suva, the second Oceania Cup was staged – this time in Apia, Samoa.

Apia – 26-27 June 2003

The Pacific Island teams saw this as a very good opportunity to fine-tune their athletes for the Suva SPG to be held from 28 June and 12 July. The Apia Oceania Cup was held 26-27 June. Glad to have good air travel between the two island nations, but Athletics was held in the second week of the Games, so there were no problems.

I was in Suva getting ready for the South Pacific Games and did not travel to Apia to watch the two days of competition. We all learned of the results as soon as they happened. No great internet was widely available – but telephones were in use!

Team Micronesia had a massive turn-around in fortune and placed in the top three in ten events.

As expected, many of the Island athletes, were ready for the Games.

Jack and John Howard, brothers from FSM and part of Team Micronesia won the 100m and 200m events. Other islanders who made an impression were Kuripitone Betham (POL/SAM), Melesia Mafile’o (POL/TGA) Setefano Mika / Aunese Curreen (POL/SAM),Angela Way (MEL/PNG), Neil Weare (MIC/GUM), ’Ana Po’uhila (POL/TGA) Sandy Katusele (MEL/PNG), Melehifo Uhi (POL/TGA), Fagamanu Sofai (POL/SAM), Shaka Sola (POL/SAM), Sekona Vi (POL/TGA) & Henry Ben (MEL/PNG).

The relays provided good variety with a Mixed 4 x 100m, and an 800m Medley Relay.

I apologise for not mentioning the excellent athletes from Australia and New Zealand, but my knowledge area has been limited to the countries that traditionally participated in the South Pacific Games and the Mini Games. While I know the top Aussie and Kiwi athletes, I am not familiar with those who make up the development groups sent to such competitions.

Good AUS & NZL performances were seen by Nicholas Hudson (AUS, who narrowly defeated Neal Weare (GUM) in the 1500m and was just a few hundredths of a second ahead of Neale Weare (GUM) and Georges Richmond (TAH) in the 3000m event. Monique Nasca (AUS) was a good winner in the Discus.

The Final Point Score was –

  1. Australia                    200 points
  2. New Zealand            137.5 points
  3. Polynesia                   137 points
  4. Melanesia                  105 points
  5. Micronesia                 74.5 points.

Runaway Bay, Queensland – 5th June 2021 & 12th June

The Cup competition took place over two days – a week apart. Some of the field events took place at QE II Stadium in Brisbane. The track events were held at Runaway Bay.

There were three teams competing – Australia U20, New Zealand and Oceania Select. The Tokyo Olympic Games were dominating the horizon of most of the top quality Australian and New Zealand athletes, and they made the most of their opportunity to get good qualifying performances.

It was a Continental Cup unlike any other.

In addition to those striving for points in the cup, there were many top senior athletes from Australia and New Zealand hoping for an improvement in their world rankings, or (even better) a qualifying performance.

The outstanding individual performance was from Australia’s Peter Bol, who finished within the 800m qualifying time with a perfectly judged race in 1:44.88, bettering the tough qualifying standard of 1:45.20. The pacemakers did an excellent job. It was a privilege to meet Peter and see his sensational run. Soon all of the Oceania Region would know who he was.

Other Oceania athletes who excelled were Eddie Osei-Nketia (NZL 100m), Hana Basic (AUS – 100m), Zoe Hobbs (NZL 100m), Maddison-Lee Wesche (NZL Shot Put). The Pacific Islanders who made their presence felt were Rellie Kaputin (PNG) and Lataisi Mwea (KIR).

Up and coming Australian U20 athletes who impressed were Torrie Lewis, Ellie Beer, Briana Beahan, Celeste Mucci, Kathryn Mitchell and from New Zealand Zoe Hobbs.

The day before the Runaway Bay meet, the Pole Vault and the Discus were held at QE II Stadium in Brisbane with excellent performances by Discus throwers Dani Stevens and Mathew Denny.

Points after Day One –

Australia                    1009 points
New Zealand            997 points
Oceania Select.        977 points                                                                           

Like the first Oceania Cup met the week before, some field events took place at QE II Stadium in Brisbane. The highlight was Kurtis Marschall who cleared 5.60m in the Pole Vault.

Back on the track at Runaway Bay the Australian Women’s 4 x 100m Relay Team ran their second fastest ever time – 43.11 seconds. Peter Bol ran the fastest ever 800m time on Australian soil with a well-judged 1:44.62 – bettering his time from the previous week.

Nicola McDermott, now more commonly known as Nicola Olyslagers (AUS) jumped 1.96m in the High Jump and narrowly missed clearing 2.00m. The Javelin competition saw Kathryn Mitchell (AUS) throw 63.50m.

The outstanding individual performances were from Australia’s Peter Bol, who finished within the 800m qualifying time with a perfectly judged races of 1:44.88 and 1:44.62, bettering the tough qualifying standard of 1:45.20. I mention again that the pacemakers did an excellent job.

We were very lucky to see so many quality athletes, and excellent performances, so close to the Tokyo selection deadline. All the best to those who go to Townsville (19th June) for one more attempt to become an Olympian. All the other athletes could now enjoy the off-season and build-up their strength, stamina and speed for the 2021-2022 season.

Points for Day Two

Australia                    1021 points
New Zealand            1020 points
Oceania Select         973 points

Overall, after the two days

Australia                    2030 points
New Zealand            2017 points
Oceania Select         1950 points.

As I said earlier, it was an Oceania Cup unlike any other.

Saipan – 23-24 June 2023

The only two individual nations competing in the 2023 Oceania Cup, were the host nation, Northern Mariana Islands, and Australia. This time no New Zealand team. The competition took place at Oleai Stadium.

Team Melanesia proved to be very strong with excellent performances from Leroy Kamau (PNG – winner of 100m & 200m) and first past the post performances from Adolf Kauba (PNG – 800m), Aquila Turalom (PNG – 3000m), Daniel Baul (PNG – 400mH), Inoke Waisake (FIJ – Triple Jump), Karo Iga (PNG Javelin), Leonie Beu (PNG – 200m & 400m), Adrine Monagi (PNG – 100mH), Edna Boafob (PNG – 400mH & High Jump), Rellie Kaputin (PNG – LJ & TJ) & Sharon Toako (PNG – JT).

In the 4 x 100m Mixed Relay, Melanesia Team A and Team B finished in first and second.

Other good winners were Regine Tugade-Watson (Micronesia – Guam in the 100m), Nyree Hamilton (AUS – 800m), Lily Mather (AUS – 1500m), Leyla Liakatos (AUS – 3000m), Emma Berg (AUS – SP), Alexandra Morgan (POL – ASA – DT), Alysha Pearson (AUS – HT). Australia won the Mixed 4 x 400m Relay.

Hawaii, being part of Team Polynesia, had only one competitor, Rylie Cabalse, who won the Men’s 1500m and was second in the 800m. Expect more competitors from Hawaii in the future. (And in Oceania Cup #5, we have a full, separate team from Hawaii).

Our Oceania Athletics Cup is expanding.

Final Point Score was

  1. Melanesia                  273 points
  2. Polynesia                   196 points
  3. Australia                    190 points
  4. Micronesia                 163 points
  5. Northern Marianas   138 points

NUKU’ALOFA, TONGA – 29 October to 1 November 2025

Apart from the teams competing in the Oceania Cup, we also had the opportunity for a far greater variety of athletes to participate, with events for Veterans, Para Athletes and Invitational events for a wide age range. When the infrastructure is in place for the Cup, it is wise of Oceania Athletics to provide competition for many more apart from the eight teams competing in the Cup. Tonga now has a lot of equipment to use to create strong teams for the up-coming Oceania (Darwin 2026) and Pacific Games (Tahiti 2027) meets.

These teams competing were – Tonga (as the host), Australia, Regional Australia, New Zealand, Polynesia (ASA, COK, PYF, SAM & TUV), Micronesia (FSM, GUM, KIR, MHL, NMI, NRU & PLW), Melanesia (FIJ, NFI, PNG, SOL & VAN) and Hawaii. Hawaii made their debut in the previous Oceania Cup (with one competitor), but here they have a full team of keen athletes.

The points score is 8 for first place in an individual event, down to 1 point for 8th. Relays score double points. The Cup competition runs from the 30th October to the 1st November.

After putting up a very strong showing in Saipan in 2023, Team Melanesia will be hard-pressed to once again appear at the top of the list. Too many top athletes were unable to attend. Will Australia come back to win again for the fourth time? Of course they will.

As expected, Australia did very well in the Oceania Cup events. There were many fine performances from members of the other teams, but the quality of the Australian athletes was on display from the very beginning.

Sitting in the stands for much of the competition it was good to see the athletes from different teams mingling with each other and getting to enjoy the atmosphere that is seen with Pacific Island competition. I have experienced this many times from my first Oceania Championship in Suva in 1990, to the present day.

There were many good performances in the Cup events, and many excellent performances in the Invitation and Masters’ events. Some of the fields were large and the Tongan athletes availed themselves of the opportunity to compete in an exciting event in front of their home crowd.

The final results ran to 72 pages indicating the huge number of events on offer for the Oceania Cup, the Masters’ events (for many age divisions), Para events and Invitational events. The 72 pages had the results of 153 events. Australia won 15 events – adding greatly to their large point score.

It was good to see some well-known athletes, who had represented their nation at the Olympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games competing on the track in Nuku’alofa. Others had a stellar career for their country in Pacific Games and Oceania competitions. Well done to Sekona Vi (Tonga), Lui Muavesi (Tonga), Aunese Cureen (Samoa) and Latai Sikuvea (Tonga). It was good to see you again – still involved in our sport.

Members of the Oceania Family also had the opportunity to test their skills. Well done to Robin Sapong, Anthony Curry, Mika Kama, Sharon Toako, John McCarthy and Hazel McDonnell. Also well done to our travel guru, Steven Lindley, who battled it out in the Men-50 Shot Put and Discus with Mika Kama.

Did Dash Newington (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) really enter all those events for the W40 Masters’ Division? I gave up counting but saw her name on 28 different pages. She even cleared 3.60m in the Pole Vault! Awesome.

Now to the significant performances in the Oceania Cup. I will do selected place getters by team.

Team Australia –

Tiahna Skelton – 1st 100m Hurdles (13.49)
Ebony Newton – 1st 100m sprint (12.09)
Jasmin Guthrie – 1st 400m (54.96)
Ashley Pernicker – 1st 800m (2:12.47)
Ashley Pernecker – 1st 400mH (1:03.65)
Katie Gunn – 1st LJ (6.16m)
Ashlyn Blackstock – 1st DT (52.97m)
Charlize Sivyer – 2nd 200m (24.51)
Genevieve Bosker – 2nd High Jump (1.65m)
Jai Gordon – 1st 100m sprint (10.46)
Josh Fabiani – 1st 400m (48.06)
Desmond Cutter – 1st 1500m (3:57.49)
Desmond Cutter – 1st 3000m (8:49.32)
Jackson Mellor – 1st Hammer Throw (56.29)
Connor Larsen – 1st High Jump (2.10m)
William Dyball – 2nd 800m (1:54.12)
Mixed 4 x 100m Relay – 1st (43.63)
Mixed 4 x 400m Relay – 1st (3:30.30)

Team Melanesia –
Loata Lewageena (FIJ) – 2nd DT (43.50m)
Loata Lewageena (FIJ) – 2nd JT (44.05m)
Maryann Macedru (FIJ) – 2nd SP (14.56m)
Taleyah Jones (NFI) – 3rd HT (44.54 NR)
Errol Qaqa (FIJ) – 1st 110m Hurdles (14.86)
Daniel Baul (PNG) – 1st 400mH (54.65)
Samuela Vunivalu (FIJ) 1st LJ (7.05m)
Lakona Gerega (PNG) – 1st JT (68.91m for a new NR)
Lucas Osida (PNG) – 2nd JT (64.22m)
Pais Wisil (PNG) – 2nd 100m sprint (10.60)
Jiuteis Robinson (PNG) – 2nd 3000m (8:59.85)
Daniel Baul (PNG) – 2nd 400m (48.79)
Samuela Vunivalu (FIJ) – 3rd TJ (13.21m)
Stephen Rahuasi (SOL) 3rd 800m (1:56.05)
Mixed 4 x 100m Relay – 3rd (45.79)
Mixed 4 x 400m Relay – 3rd (3:45.35)

Team Polynesia –
Iorana Tuafafo Tafili (SAM) – 1st HT (51.71)
Mihivai Atrewe (PYF) 3rd 400mH (1:06.86)
Nathaniel Sulupo (SAM) – 1st SP (16.68m)
Nathaniel Sulupo (SAM) – 1st DT (48.02m)
Nathaniel Sulupo (SAM) – 2nd HT (40.62)
Pol-Elie Raoult (PYF) – 2nd TJ (13.70m)
Piri Nga (COK) – 2nd LJ (6.71m)
Samasoni Hewitt (COK) – 3rd HJ (1.90m)
Johnny Malua (SAM) – 3rd 200m (21.61)

Team New Zealand –
Mia de Jager – 1st HJ (1.70m)
Mia de Jager – 1st 200m (24.19)
Hannah McManus – 1st 1500m (4:45.07)
Hannah Collins – 1st TJ (11.74m)
Mya Phillips – 1st JT (48.90m)
Hannah Collins – 2nd LJ (5.63m)
Jag Willers – 1st 800m (1:53.09)
Zhan Bowden – 1st TJ (14.44m)
Jag Willers – 2nd 1500m (3:59.12)
Luke Moffitt – 2nd 400mH (55.98)
Mixed 4 x 100m Relay – 2nd (45.52)
Mixed 4 x 400m Relay – 2nd (3:37.86)

Team Hawaii –
Valo Sopoaga – 2nd HT (44.63)
Chadelle Gregory – 2nd TJ (11.43m)
Grace Blanchette – 3rd JT (38.94m)
Valo Sopoaga – 3rd SP (14.12)
Joseph Randolph – 1st 200m (21.14)
Joseph Randolph – 3rd 100m (10.80)

Team Tonga –
‘Atamaama Tu’utafaiva – 1st SP (15.46m)
Natalia Kaitu’u – 3rd DT (42.57m)
Penisimani Ta’e’iloa – 2nd DT (46.92m)
Sione Vakata – 3rd JT (58.49m)

Team Micronesia –
Tania Tan (NMI) 2nd 3000m (10:29.42)
William Reed (MHL) – 4th High Jump (1.85m)

Team Regional Australia –
Audrey Hall – 1st 3000m (10:12.00)
Ella Matthiesson – 2nd 1500m (4:46.12)
Ella Matthiesson – 2nd 800m (2:17.76)

The full results – all 72 pages – can be found on the Oceania Athletics website.

Final Points Score for the Oceania Cup –

  1. Australia                          231 points
  2. Melanesia                        183 points
  3. Polynesia                         173.5 points
  4. New Zealand                  168 points
  5. Hawaii                              140 points
  6. Tonga                               104.5 points
  7. Micronesia                       93 points
  8. Regional Australia          78 points

With a total of 1171 points allocated for the various events.

Finally, a big thank you to the Kingdom of Tonga. The Oceania Family members were in the Kingdom during the public holidays to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the formation of the Tongan Constitution. The celebrations were widespread around Nuku’alofa, and added much to the excitement of our stay.

—-ENDS—-