Twenty Years Ago in Palau….
WORDS: Bob Snow
In 2005, Palau staged the seventh edition of the Mini Pacific Games. The Athletics events were fiercely fought with Fiji having much success in the Men’s sprints and middle-distance events.
Moses Kamut (VAN) won the 100m (10.64 seconds) defeating Jone Delai (FIJ – 10.73 seconds)) but the 200m was won by Iliesa Namosimalua (FIJ – 21.54 seconds). Waisea Finau (FIJ – 48.78 seconds)) won the 400m to lead a Fiji medal sweep.
In the relays, PNG won the 4 x 100m (41.92 seconds) and Fiji took gold in the 4 x 400m (3:18.26).
Isireli Naikelekelevesi (FIJ – 1:53.01) won the 800m for the third Mini Games in a row but had to take the silver behind Setefano Mika (SAM – 4:01.33) in the 1500m. Setefano later changed his name to Aunese Curreen.
Sapolai Yao (PNG) dominated the long track races (5000m – 15:59.72 & 10000m – 33:49.40), but with no Steeplechase offered, he could not compete in his signature event. Chris Votu (SOL – 1:18:51) won the Half Marathon.
Aleki Sapoi (TGA) won the 110m Hurdles (15.11 seconds) and the 400m Hurdles (53.89 seconds).
Fiji won the High Jump (Rajendra Prasad – 1,95m) and the Long Jump (Eroni Tuivanuavou – 7.10m), but PNG’s Sandy Katusele (14.40m) won the Triple Jump.
The throws were dominated by the Polynesians nations. Gold in the Shot Put was Samoa’s Shaka Sola (17.74m). The Discus gold went to Wallis & Futuna’s Akusitino Hoatau (52.80m). The Hammer Throw went to Samoa’s Faleono Seve (54.11m) and the Javelin gold was won by Wallis & Futuna’s Jackie Tuakoifenua (63.44m).
A surprise winner in the Octathlon was the Cook Island’s Harmon Harmon (4719 points).
The Women’s Events saw the blossoming of PNG’s Mae Koime who won the 100m (12.03 seconds), the 200m (24.69 seconds) and the 400m (57.10 seconds). Getting minor medals in the three sprints was a newcomer, Toea Wisil (PNG) who will be seen in many Games after Palau.
PNG’s Salome Dell won the 800m (2:21.83) with Guam’s Sloan Siegrist taking gold in the 1500m (4:54.88).
Leana Peters from Guam won the 5000m (21:06.72) and Linda Tora from the Solomon Islands won the 10000m (46:22.10). There were only two entries in the 10000m.
Multi-talented Milika Tuivanuavou (Fiji – 16.70 seconds) won the 100m Hurdles (16.70 seconds), the High Jump (1.45m) and the Heptathlon (3559 points).
Like the Men’s Relay medals, the medals were won by Fiji in the 4 x 100m (48.52 seconds) and PNG the 4 x 400m (3:58.97). Only two teams entered the 4 x 100m event. Will we have more entered in Palau 2025? The early entries suggest that we will.
PNG’s Merolyn Auga won the 400m Hurdles (67.15 seconds) but there were only two entries in this event.
Fanny See (NCL – 5.60m) won the Long Jump and Soko Salaniqiqi (FIJ – 11.43m) took gold in the Triple Jump.
The Shot Put was won by ‘Ana Po’uhila (TGA – 16.92m), the Discus gold went to Melehifo Uhi (TGA – 48.22m), the Javelin was won by Serafina Akeli (SAM – 52.26m) and the Hammer Throw saw Patricia Kolivai (NCL – 45.49m) take the title.
For those who would like to see the full results from the 2005 Palau Mini Games, they can be found on the Oceania Athletics’ website. Follow the link below.
We welcome back to Palau those who competed or officiated in the 2005 Mini Games but are still involved in the sport as officials / coaches. Will be interesting for somebody to interview them to see the great changes that have taken place in the past 20 years.
Looking forward to the 2025 competition, we now have Australia participating. New Zealand decided not to come to the Palau Games. In the Women’s events Australia headed the form guide in seven events but did not get to the top of the form guide list in any of the Men’s events. We look forward to the competition which gets underway on Friday 4th July with the Women’s and Men’s 10000m events.
You can catch the Athletics at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games LIVE and FREE at the Palau National Stadium from July 4
Updates and Imagery can be found at the Oceania Athletics Social Media Channels
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