Thirteen-year-old Metuamaru Arere won the gold medal in the women’s 100-metre sprint on the first day of athletics at the 2024 Cook Islands Games yesterday.

Arere of Aitutaki clocked 13.14 seconds, finishing ahead of Tatjiana Areai, 15, of Mangaia and Tearoa Rouru, 18, of Mitiaro at the National Stadium track in Nikao. Silver medallist Areai clocked 13.88s while bronze medallist Rouru finished in a time of 13.93s.

Nathaniel Nabou is the fastest man in the country, having won the gold medal in the 100-metre open men’s division finals. Nabou of Team Rarotonga clocked 11.55 seconds, followed closely by Thomas Makimare of Aitutaki at 11.61s and Tamaiva Mateariki of Atiu at 11.65s.

The Fiji national then helped his 4x400m relay win gold in the final race of day one yesterday. Nabou teamed up with Zarrian Rau-Heather, Tetupu Nicholas and Jale Lagidela to finish head of Aitutaki and Mitiaro who settled for silver and bronze medals, respectively.

In the women’s 4x400m, Arere teamed up with Esther Mona-Lisa David, Naomi Crocombe and Dani Andendorff to win gold while Mitiaro managed solver medal and Atiu settled for bronze.

Athletics president Simone Fe’ao said it was an epic first day of athletics as there were some new talents identified which bode well for the future of athletics.

“We are proud to be able to raise the standard this year with the inclusion of photo finish and electronic timing. This means this event is now on the World Athletics calendar and our athletes will receive world athletics rankings.”

In the U18 girls 100m sprint category, Mitiaro’s Vaihere Mitchell clocked 13.57s winning gold followed by Ngatungame Tearii (under national entry) and Atiu’s Akirata Short in third place.

Pukapuka’s Addison Rowe won gold in the men’s U18 100 metre sprint category clocking 11.73s followed by Aurametua Vavia (Mitiaro) and Teraeuna Tuakeu (Aitutaki).

The track and field events continue today at the National Stadium from 10am with discus and long jump alongside 200m sprint, 400m, 800m, 4x100m and 2km race walk.

• Losirene Lacanivalu

Women Shot Put Under 18 - Finals 

Record: 14.96m 13/10/2006 Tereapii Tapoki, Tereora 

 1 Emii Akava 15 Manihiki 11.70m 

 2 Tuaana Ore Tisha Ros Mit 16 Mitiaro 11.62m 

 3 Roimata George 13 Aitutaki 10.54m 

Men 45+ Shot Put MASTERS Finals

1 Scott David Arlander 55 Rakahanga 11.09m

2 Kevin Iro 55 Rarotonga 10.80m

3 Charles Winchester 46 Aitutaki 9.79m

Men 18 & Under Shot Put Under 18 Finals: 

Record: 13.85m 29/09/2009 Mau George, Tereora 

 1 Kingston Kenneth Nga Pup 15 Mitiaro 15.50me 

 2 Terii Haurua 17 Aitutaki 12.81m 

 3 Retire Daniel 15 Aitutaki 12.32m 

Men Javelin Throw Open 

Record: e 57.18m 24/09/2009 Daniel Tutai, Rarotonga 

 1 Willyn Karika 23 Aitutaki 48.53m 

 2 Donumaibulu Samuela 33 Rakahanga 45.21m 

 3 Hiwi Wuatai 24 Puka Puka 45.03m 

Women Javelin Throw Open 

Record: e 45.85m 14/12/2006 Tereapii Tapoki, Apia 

 1 Tatiana Sherwin 24 Aitutaki 33.87m 

 2 Esther Mona-Lisa David 17 Aitutaki 33.49m 

 3 Maki Samantha Lockington 33 Mitiaro 31.77m 

Women Shot Put Open 

Record: e 14.96m 11/10/2006 Tereapii Tapoki, Rarotonga 

 1 Ana Ellison-Lupena 16 Mangaia 10.48m 

 2 Emma Papali'i 16 Mauke 10.38m 

 3 Maki Samantha Lockington 33 Mitiaro 9.83m 

Women 45+ Shot Put MASTERS 

 1 Jane Moananu 51 Palmerston 8.69m 

 2 Lawrencia William 57 Manihiki 8.68m 

 3 Teveka Taru 46 Palmerston 7.94m 

Men Shot Put Open 

Record: 13.85m 25/09/2009 Mau George, Rarotonga 

1 Elijah Poila 20 Manihiki 13.37m 

2 Napolioni Tuivanua 33 Manihiki 11.64m 

3 Mau George Snr 37 Aitutaki 11.61m 

Men High Jump Open 

Record: 1.89m 25/09/2009 Turuariki George Baxter, Raro 

1 Zarrian Daniel Nicho Rau 15 Rarotonga J1.80m 

2 Tumaiata Purua 18 Aitutaki J1.65m 

3 Tamaiva Mateariki 24 Atiu J1.55m 

4 George Marsters 25 National entry J1.55m 

Women High Jump Open 

Record: e 1.67m 03/06/1991 Vicki Kiel, Rarotonga 

 1 Tatjiana Areai 15 Mangaia J1.63m 

 2 Esther Mona-Lisa David 17 Aitutaki J1.47m 

 3 Miimetua Purua 15 Aitutaki J1.26m 

 4 Kimberly Tangirere 22 Atiu J1.26m 

Women 45+ 60 Metre Sprint MASTERS 

1 June George 56 Aitutaki 9.87 2.0

2 Julieanne Westrupp 48 Mitiaro 10.23 2.0

3 Tai Cummings 47 Atiu 10.25 2.02 

Women 45+ 100 Metre Sprint MASTERS 

1 June George 56 Aitutaki 16.21 2.5

2 Julieanne Westrupp 48 Mitiaro 16.96 2.5

3 Tai Cummings 47 Atiu 16.98 2.5 

Women 45+ 1500 Metre Run MASTERS Finals 

 1 Cecilia Christine Tearik 44 Mitiaro 7:10.35 

 2 Tai Cummings 47 Atiu 7:37.66 

 3 Kate Payne 48 Mitiaro 8:21.96 

Women 18 & Under 100 Metre Sprint Under 18 Finals

Record: 12.18 05/08/2017 Patricia Taea, London

1 Vaihere Marie Mitchell 13 Mitiaro 13.57 0.7

2 Ngatungane Tearii 13 National entry 13.76 0.7

3 Akirata Short 15 Atiu 13.80 0.7

Women 100 Metre Sprint Open Preliminaries 

Record: 11.97 03/12/2017 Patricia Taea, Brisbane 

1 Metuamaru Arere 13 Aitutaki 13.14 1.3

2 Tatjiana Areai 15 Mangaia 13.88 1.3

3 Tearoa Rouru 18 Mitiaro 13.93 1.3

Women 1500 Metre Run Open Finals 

Record: 4:49.21 09/08/1985 Attina Sawtell, Rarotonga 

 1 Brooke Ross 29 Atiu 5:19.84 

 2 Maya Postrycaz 16 Mangaia 5:26.45 

 3 Jamie Crawford 35 Mitiaro 5:59.07 

Men 18 & Under 100 Metre Sprint Under 18 

Record: 10.60 19/11/1993 Mark Sherwin, Brisbane 

1 Addison Rowe 16 Puka Puka 11.73 1.7

2 Aurametua Vavia 17 Mitiaro 11.98 1.7

3 Teraeuna Tuakeu 14 Aitutaki 12.00 1.7 

Men 100 Metre Sprint Open 

Record: 10.97 04/12/1993 Mark Sherwin, Brisbane 

1 Nathaniel Isoa Anton Nab 21 Rarotonga 11.55 0.5

2 Thomas Makimare 17 Aitutaki 11.61 0.5

3 Tamaiva Mateariki 24 Atiu 11.65 0.5

Men 1500 Metre Run Open Finals:

Record: 4:03.13 19/07/2019 Alex Beddoes, Apia 

 1 Rupeni Mataitonga 32 Aitutaki 4:44.74 

 2 Nooapii Hosea 25 Mauke 4:48.15 

 3 Eric Gamez 44 Manihiki 5:25.75 

Men 45+ 60 Metre Sprint MASTERS 

1 Pi David 52 National entry 8.22 1.6

2 Tiraa Arere 39 National entry 8.26 1.6

3 Ailaoa Samania 48 Mitiaro 8.29 1.6

Men 45+ 100 Metre Sprint MASTERS 

1 Tiraa Arere National 49 National entry 13.15 1.0

2 Pi David 52 National entry 13.42 1.0

3 Ailaoa Samania 48 Mitiaro 13.63 1.0

Men 45+ 1500 Metre Run MASTERS Finals 

 1 David Street 45 Mauke 5:33.31 

 2 Roland Neururer 58 Mangaia 5:36.30 

 3 Adrian Hopwood 55 Manihiki 5:38.40 

Women 4x400 Metre Relay Open

Women 4x400 Metre Relay Open

1 Aitutaki 'A' 4:44.99

1) Esther Mona-Lisa David 17 2) Naomi Crocombe 14

3) Metuamaru Arere 13 4) Dani Andendorff 36

2 Mitiaro 'A' 4:54.60

1) Tearoa Rouru 18 2) Hemilda Tereapii Vavia 29

3) Jamie Crawford 35 4) Patricia Nooroa Taea 30

3 Atiu 'A' 4:56.82

1) Clara Cummings 18 2) Phillipa Hansen 38

3) Kimberly Tangirere 22 4) Brooke Ross 29

Men 4x400 Metre Relay Open: Record- 3:34.50 13/10/2020 Mauke, Rarotonga

Nabou,Tolosa, Mateariki,Beddoes

1 Rarotonga 'A' 3:47.24

1) Zarrian Daniel Nicho Rau-Heathe 2) Tetupu O Rongo Tamat Nicholas 2

3) Jale Lagidela 24 4) Nathaniel Isoa Anton Nabou 21

2 Aitutaki 'A' 3:57.21

1) Roipaora Isamaela 15 2) Thomas Makimare 17

3) Josef Crocombe 15 4) Rupeni Mataitonga 32

3 Mitiaro 'A' 4:21.94

1) Tei'I A Rangi Te-Kur Ngametua 1 2) Douglas Ernest Peter Matakibau

3) Rickahn Moutaiki Man Iro 21 4) Petero Maria Naivalu 35