# 2009 Melanesian Championships in Athletics

The 2009 Melanesian Championships in Athletics took place between August 4–8, 2009. The event was held at the Griffith University in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, jointly with the OAA Grand Prix Series, and the OAA sub-regional Micronesian and Polynesian Championships. Many athletes utilised the competitions preparing for the upcoming IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany. Detailed reports were given for the OAA.
A total of 34 events were contested, 18 by men and 16 by women.

## Medal summary

Complete results can be found on the Oceania Athletics Association webpage, and at sportfieber.pytalhost.com.
In 100 metres, 400 metres hurdles, long jump and triple jump, as well as in shot put, discus throw, and javelin throw, there were separate open competitions for the Melanesian championships and the OAA Grand Prix Series held on different days.

### Men

| Event | Gold | Gold | Silver | Silver | Bronze | Bronze |
| 100 metres (wind: +0.1 m/s) | Niko Verekauta Fiji | 10.60 | Nelson Stone Papua New Guinea | 10.76 | Iowane Dovumatua Fiji | 10.82 |
| 100 metres Non-Championship Event (Grand Prix Series) | Adison Alfred Solomon Islands | 11.21 (wind: +0.0 m/s) | Mathew Goha Solomon Islands | 11.30 (wind: +1.2 m/s) | Jack Iroga Solomon Islands | 11.37 (wind: +1.2 m/s) |
| 200 metres (wind: +2.5 m/s) | Niko Verekauta Fiji | 21.47 w | Nelson Stone Papua New Guinea | 21.59 w | Tevita Nalovo Tuvuloka Fiji | 22.17 w |
| 400 metres$^{1.)}$ | Nelson Stone Papua New Guinea | 47.61 | Wala Gime Papua New Guinea | 48.38 | Joshua Ahwong Australia | 48.77 |
| 800 metres | Varasiko Toge Tomeru Fiji | 1:55.21 | Adrien Kela New Caledonia | 1:55.58 | Dean Searles Australia | 1:55.62 |
| 1500 metres | Adrien Kela New Caledonia | 4:08.57 | Rorey Hunter Australia | 4:09.19 | Douglas Bale Solomon Islands | 4:17.28 |
| 5000 metres | Philip Nausien Vanuatu | 16:08.60 | Nathan Sutherland Australia | 16:34.26 | Theo Houdret New Caledonia | 17:30.16 |
| 10000 metres | Chris Votu Solomon Islands | 34:08.25 | Philip Nausien Vanuatu | 35:43.02 | Nicholas Hanna Australia | 42:11.04 |
| 3000 metres steeplechase | Chris Votu Solomon Islands | 10:17.84 | Douglas Bale Solomon Islands | 10:24.15 | | |
| 110 metres hurdles (wind: -0.1 m/s) | Xavier Fenuafanote New Caledonia | 15.79 | Jone Wainiqolo Fiji | 15.82 | Nathan McConchie Australia | 18.04 |
| 400 metres hurdles | Wala Gime Papua New Guinea | 53.12 | | | | |
| 400 metres hurdles Non-Championship Event (Grand Prix Series) | Wala Gime Papua New Guinea | 52.45 | Jone Wainiqolo Fiji | 56.06 | | |
| High Jump | Norman Tse Papua New Guinea | 1.96m | Xavier Fenuafanote New Caledonia | 1.87m | Khaele Bowen Australia | 1.81m |
| Long Jump | Julius Nyambane Australia | 7.01m (wind: +1.1 m/s) | Rodney Blaire Australia | 6.71m (wind: -1.5 m/s) | Norman Tse Papua New Guinea | 6.69m (wind: +1.9 m/s) |
| Long Jump Non-Championship Event (Grand Prix Series) | Julius Nyambane Australia | 6.90m (wind: -0.4 m/s) | Norman Tse Papua New Guinea | 6.69m (wind: +0.7 m/s) | Rodney Blaire Australia | 6.39m (wind: +0.9 m/s) |
| Triple Jump | Mong Tavol Papua New Guinea | 13.91m (wind: -1.0 m/s) | Reginald Monagi Papua New Guinea | 13.24m (wind: +0.0 m/s) | Etuwate Dreli Fiji | 12.98m (wind: -2.1 m/s) |
| Triple Jump Non-Championship Event (Grand Prix Series) | Mong Tavol Papua New Guinea | 13.98m (wind: -1.1 m/s) | Reginald Monagi Papua New Guinea | 13.64m (wind: -0.2 m/s) | | |
| Shot Put | David Rakoci Australia | 11.11m | | | | |
| Discus Throw Non-Championship Event (Grand Prix Series) | David Rakoci Australia | 34.61m | | | | |
| Hammer Throw | Thomas McGuire Australia | 43.25m | David Rakoci Australia | 32.59m | | |
| Javelin Throw | Leslie Copeland Fiji | 67.99m CR | Ashley Hollins Australia | 61.12m | Semi Waqavatu Fiji | 55.13m |
| Javelin Throw Non-Championship Event (Grand Prix Series) | Leslie Copeland Fiji | 66.36m | Ashley Hollins Australia | 64.23m | | |
| 4 x 100 metres relay$^{2.)}$ | Fiji | 41.40 =CR | Papua New Guinea | 41.90 | Australia | 44.33 |
| 4 x 400 metres relay | Papua New Guinea | 3:23.07 | Vanuatu | 3:30.73 | Australia | 3:34.31 |
$^{1.)}$: In the 400 metres event, Kevin Kapmatana from Papua New Guinea was 2nd in 48.05 competing as a guest. $^{2.)}$: In the 4 x 100 metres relay event, the B team from Fiji was 3rd in 42.30 competing as guests.

### Women

| Event | Gold | Gold | Silver | Silver | Bronze | Bronze |
| 100 metres (wind: -1.0 m/s) | Toea Wisil Papua New Guinea | 11.80 =CR | Makelesi Bulikiobo Fiji | 11.98 | Helen Philemon Papua New Guinea | 13.07 |
| 100 metres (wind: +1.0 m/s)] Non-Championship Event (Grand Prix Series) | Michele John Papua New Guinea | 13.52 | Pauline Kwalea Solomon Islands | 13.63 | | |
| 200 metres (wind: 1.6 m/s) | Makelesi Bulikiobo Fiji | 24.25 | Toea Wisil Papua New Guinea | 24.64 | Paulini Korowaqa Fiji | 25.65 |
| 400 metres$^{1.)}$ | Makelesi Bulikiobo Fiji | 54.90 | Salome Dell Papua New Guinea | 55.79 | Paulini Korowaqa Fiji | 58.36 |
| 800 metres | Salome Dell Papua New Guinea | 2:09.25 CR | Kavita Maharaj Fiji | 2:21.23 | Poro Gahekave Papua New Guinea | 2:26.37 |
| 1500 metres | Kavita Maharaj Fiji | 4:57.81 | Poro Gahekave Papua New Guinea | 5:08.60 | Salote Nauila Fiji | 5:20.75 |
| 5000 metres | Sereima Liku Fiji | 20:24.28 | | | | |
| 100 metres hurdles (wind: -0.3 m/s) | Soko Salaniqiqi Fiji | 15.66 CR | | | | |
| 400 metres hurdles | Sharon Kwarula Papua New Guinea | 64.38 | | | | |
| Long Jump | Soko Salaniqiqi Fiji | 5.71m w (wind: +4.9 m/s) | Merrisa Colledge Australia | 5.50m w (wind: +2.8 m/s) | | |
| Long Jump Non-Championship Event (Grand Prix Series) | Merrisa Colledge Australia | 5.17m (wind: +0.8 m/s) | Soko Salaniqiqi Fiji | 5.17m (wind: +1.3 m/s) | | |
| Triple Jump | Nickeisha Hodder Australia | 10.20m (wind: +0.5 m/s) | | | | |
| Shot Put | Kelly Humphries Australia | 11.19m CR | Nickeisha Hodder Australia | 9.63m | Britt Quintal Christian Norfolk Island | 8.91m |
| Shot Put Non-Championship Event (Grand Prix Series) | Kelly Humphries Australia | 11.09m | Che Kenneally Australia | 10.47m | Britt Quintal Christian Norfolk Island | 8.81m |
| Discus Throw$^{2.)}$ | Kelly Humphries Australia | 38.23m CR | Wasie Toolis Australia | 32.34m | Nickeisha Hodder Australia | 32.01m |
| Discus Throw Non-Championship Event (Grand Prix Series) | Kelly Humphries Australia | 36.17m | Nickeisha Hodder Australia | 35.40m | Wasie Toolis Australia | 31.18m |
| Hammer Throw | Kelly Humphries Australia | 44.22m CR | Cindy Toluafe New Caledonia | 41.28m | | |
| Javelin Throw | Nickeisha Hodder Australia | 40.99m | Wasie Toolis Australia | 39.02m | | |
| Javelin Throw Non-Championship Event (Grand Prix Series) | Nickeisha Hodder Australia | 41.45m | Wasie Toolis Australia | 37.09m | Kelly Humphries Australia | 29.26m |
| 4 x 100 metres relay | Papua New Guinea | 49.08 | Australia | 51.92 | | |
| 4 x 400 metres relay | Papua New Guinea | 4:00.20 | Fiji | 4:02.28 | | |
$^{1.)}$: In the 400 metres event, Angeline Blackburn from Australia was 3rd in 55.85 competing as a guest. $^{2.)}$: In the discus throw event, Che Kenneally from Australia was 2nd in 35.71m competing as a guest.

## Medal table (unofficial)

* Host nation (Australia)
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Fiji (FIJ) | 11 | 4 | 7 | 22 |
| 2 | Papua New Guinea (PNG) | 10 | 8 | 3 | 21 |
| 3 | Australia (AUS)* | 8 | 10 | 8 | 26 |
| 4 | New Caledonia (NCL) | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 5 | Solomon Islands (SOL) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | Vanuatu (VAN) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Norfolk Island (NFK) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (7 entries) | Totals (7 entries) | 34 | 28 | 21 | 83 |

## Participation

According to an unofficial count, 85 athletes from 7 countries participated.
* Australia (24)
* Fiji (19)
* New Caledonia (5)
* Norfolk Island (1)
* Papua New Guinea (21)
* Solomon Islands (6)
* Vanuatu (9)