Solomon Islands’ long-distance runner Sharon Kikini Firisua raced to victory in the women’s 10,000 metres a feat she also achieved in Port Moresby four years ago.
However, unlike in PNG, Firisua was joined on the podium by her compatriot Dianah Matekali, who won bronze.
The gold medallist led the other six athletes from almost the starting pistol and as the contest progressed, she broke away.
Her lead became such that in the twelfth lap out of 25, she overtook the runner in last place. One lap later and Firisua was 100 metres ahead of second place. Matekali was one of three in the chasing pack, along with athletes from Vanuatu and Fiji.
Firisua passed the finish line with a time of 41 minutes, 19.92 seconds. She was ahead of second by almost a minute.
By this point, Matekali had lost ground on Vanuatuan Margaret Kuras but still finished third. She also previously achieved bronze in the 5,000-metre competition.
Two Solomon Islanders were involved in the men’s 1500-metres. Patrick Kam and Gregory Kwait Foasilafu finished 9th and 10th respectively.
The gold went to Alex Beddoes from Cook Islands.
There was a Solomon gold in the men’s 400-metres. It wasn’t for Team Solomon though, but instead for Australian Steven Solomon, who stormed through the final 200 far ahead of his competitors.
By DANIEL LUNDBURG
Writing for Star Sports
Apia, Samoa
