THE women’s track events are always hotly contested at the Oceania Championships.
100m
Australia is sending a full complement of sprinters however, New Zealand’s Oceania 100 metre record holder Zoe Hobbs has chosen not to attend and to continue with her training.
The winners from Honiara will have the opportunity to match it with the top-quality athletes from Australia and New Zealand, as well as having the chance to beat their Pacific Island rivals.
The winner of the women’s 100m in Honiara was Georgia Harris (AUS – 11.70) from Isila Apkup (PNG – 11.86) and Regine Tugade-Watson (GUM – 11.92).
There is an enormous field of 36 athletes contesting this event in Suva, and we will see how they go through the heats and semi-finals.
The top contenders for supremacy are: Ella Connolly (AUS – 11.26) ranked 3rd, Bree Masters (AUS – 11.29) 5th, Ebony Lane (AUS – 11.30) 6th, Naa Anang (AUS – 11.31) 7th, Brooke Somerfield (NZL – 11.55) and ranks 16th in Oceania.
Australia’s first challenge will to be which three athletes they choose to contest the 100 metres, with all ladies within .5 of a second of each other’s season bests.
The Pacific Island athletes will need to running personal bests to be on the medal dais, not impossible, but certainly a challenge that we hope they are up for!
200m
The 200m in Honiara was won by Ester Wejieme (NCL – 23.83) from Leonie Beu (PNG – 24.22) and Regine Tugade-Watson (GUM – 24.24).
They will face strong opposition from Australia and New Zealand. There are currently many serious Australia and New Zealand challengers. With 35 entries, it will be a long process to decide on the eight finalists. The likely ones from Australia and New Zealand are all highly ranked in the Oceania Area and include Torrie Lewis (AUS – 22.94) and ranked #1, Mia Gross (AUS – 23.15) with a ranking of #2, Georgia Hulls (NZL – 23.24 ) and ranked #4, Riley Day (AUS – 23.50) with a ranking of #8, Rosie Elliot (NZL – 23.77) and ranked #14.
400m
The 400m in Honiara saw Australia (Ellie Beer AUS – 52.67) get the gold from New Zealand’s Camryn Smart (NZL – 55.30) and PNG’s Leonie Beu (56.42).
The field for the Oceania Championships is once again strong. Ellie Beer (AUS – 51.59) and ranked #1, Portia Binga (NZL – 52.41) and ranked #3, Mikeala Selaidnakos (AUS – 52.62) ranking #5, Amelia Rowe (AUS – 53.09) with an Oceania ranking of #7, Camryn Smart (NZL – 54.10) with an Oceania ranking of 20th.
800m
The 800m saw New Zealand rule the roost in Honiara with gold going to Tillie Hollyer – (2:12.29) and silver to Peyton Leigh (2:13.79). Charlotte Michel (NCL) won the bronze medal (2:14.73). Given the strength of the Australian and New Zealand competitors in this race, the Pacific Islanders, once again, will be running for personal best times. It is a great opportunity for them to give it a go. Carley Thomas (AUS – 2:00.95) 8, Alison Andrews-Paul (NZL – 2:02.11) 10 look to be the best in the field.
1500m
The 1500m in Honiara saw two New Zealand athletes claim the gold (Tillie Hollyer – 4:26.06 for a Games Record) and Peyton Leigh for the silver (4:39.53).
The Honiara bronze was won by French Polynesia’s Angele Richard (4:43.18).
This year’s Championships will see Maudie Skyring (AUS – 4:07.96), Laura Nagel (NZL – 4:09.92), Rebekah Greene (NZL) with a 2024 time of 4:11.65 Boh Ritchie (NZL) with a time of 4:25.60 go head-to-head.
5000m
The 5000m in Honiara was easily won by Nathania Tan from Northern Mariana Islands in the time of 18:08.69 for a new Games Record. PNG’s Scholastica Herman won the silver medal in the time of 18:38.93, and the bronze medal went to Deborah Kaboer from New Caledonia in the time of 19:03.46. The line-up of medal contenders in Suva is, Holly Campbell (AUS – 15:10.11) ranked 5, Maudie Skyring (AUS – 15:12.44) ranked 7, Jenny Blundell (AUS – 15:19.14) ranked 8.
10,000m
In the 10,000m the Honiara winner was again Nathania Tan (NMI) who ran 39:45.62, with Dianah Matekali (SOL) in the silver medal position (40:16.42) and Deborah Kaboer (NCL) collecting the bronze medal in the time of 40:50.30. The Oceania Championship field is quite small – only six runners. The favourite is Holly Campbell (AUS) with the time of 31:44.67 – to rank #2 in Oceania for 2024. Nathania Tan (NMI) with a time of 36:48.49 run in California in April, is ranked #9 in Oceania.
3000m Steeplechase
The 3000m Steeplechase medal winners in Honiara were Amandine Matera (PYF – 11:30.71) with the silver going to Lovelyn Kab’a (SOL – 12:08.49) and the bronze Mary Tenge (PNG – 12:11.04). The Suva field has many high-ranking Oceania athletes – Cara Feain- Ryan (AUS – 9:31.68) and ranked #1 in Oceania this year., Amy Cashin (AUS – 9:39.53) ranked 2, Stella Radford (AUS – 9:41.11) 3, Eva Pringle (NZL – 10:30.32) 10. This race looks like being one of the highlights with the top three ranked Oceania athletes looking to see who will dominate the event.
100m Hurdles
The 100m Hurdles in Honiara was won by Imogen Breslin (AUS) 13.81 from Adrine Monagi (PNG – 14.29) and Esther Wejieme (NCL – 14.39). The leading contenders for the title in Suva are Liz Clay (AUS – 12.93) ranked number 2 in Oceania, Danielle Shaw (AUS – 13.01) currently ranked 3, Celeste Mucci (AUS – 13.03) ranked 4, Adrine Monagi (PNG – 13.46) ranked 9.
400m Hurdles
The Women’s 400m Hurdles in Honiara was won by Loan Ville (NCL – 57.26) and was a new Games Record). The silver medal went to Isabelle Guthrie (AUS – 57.77) and the bronze to Hereiti Bernadino (PYF 64.02). With only Guthrie back in Suva, she could see herself fighting for a medal, with the Oceania Rankings showing at least three athletes faster than her. The Suva contenders are Sarah Carli (AUS – 54.96) ranked 1, Portia Bing (NZL – 56.08) 2, Marli Wilkinson (AUS – 56.11) ranked 3, Isabella Guthrie (AUS – 57.19) ranked 5. For this 400m Hurdles race Oceania has sent its big guns to fight out the medals and the 170 World Athletics bonus points that come with a good Suva win.
There are so many great matchups at these Championships and the women won’t disappoint. Get yourself along to the Oceania Championships at the HCF Stadium from June 1-8.
