This year’s Kumete Athletics Competition saw a strong challenge from Tupapa who came a close second to Arorangi as overall winners, says the president of Athletics Cook Islands, Simone Fe’ao.

Fe’ao confirmed that Avatiu came third with a dedicated team of athletes putting in the hard yards.

The annual Kumete Sports Day was held on Monday at the National Stadium in Nikao seeing a number of participants representing their own villages.

Cook Islands Rugby League coach Clive Nicholas was part of the Kumete Athletics Cup competition. 23060508 – 23060509

The competition ranged from the Cycle Event that was held on Saturday and the Discus, Shot put, Long Jump, and other track and field events that was held on Monday.

Fe’ao said the winner of the Kumete Cup is based on the Cycle and Athletics.

She said a small but enthusiastic crowd of people turned out for the annual Kumete Athletics competition.

 “Pleased to have representation from every village and seeing people entering multiple events to earn points for their village.

“At the same time we identified some good new talent for our youth development as well as our high performance squad.”

Te Rina Catherine Keenan is a New Zealand athlete whose specialty is the discus throw took part in the Kumete discus event. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU / 23060521, 23060522 / 23060523.

She added that Athletics Cook Islands is looking to review the format of Kumete and will be reaching out to the Village Sports Associations to get input as they plan for Kumete 2024.

Meanwhile, Fe’ao earlier stated that they were using the event as a trial for the Pacific Games in November.

Cook Islands Elijah Poila takes part in the discus event. Poila will be representing Cook Islands in the Polynesian team for Oceania Athletics Cup being held in Saipan this June. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU / 23060524 - 23060525, 23060527

Athletes were invited to trial based on results from the last 12 months. There are two trial opportunities – Kumete and the June 15 trial.

Overseas athletes who have been invited to trial are able to use results from recent competitions in their home country as their trial.

Every village was represented at the Kumete Athletics Cup competition. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU / 23060510 / 23060511 / 23060512 / 23060513 / 23060514 / 23060515 / 23060517 / 23060518 / 23060519 / 23060520 / 23060528

From this they would select a provisional team for the Pacific Games and would spend the next five months working under the guidance of national coaches. The final squad will be chosen by September 30.