Making her mark for the first time in athletics is Mitiaro’s amazing all-rounder sports woman Julz Westrupp who competed in the Cook Islands Games 100 metres Masters Women’s race on Saturday.

A photo finish determined the neck to neck 100m final with Westrupp claiming gold with Aitutaki’s June George coming in second with silver and Mangaia’s Elizabeth Munro with the bronze.

“I won’t lie, I was lucky, we were neck to neck, I put my body/head over the line first… it was amazing,” said Westrupp.

Westrupp usually competes in team sports and had never competed in an individual event like athletics.

She had felt “a little nervous” and winning the 100m was pretty cool, she said “especially when the national anthem was sung” during the medal ceremony.

Westrupp trained and prepared herself for the event with the young Aurametua Vavia coaching her.

This year Westrupp is competing in: Athletics - Marsters, Handball - Marsters, Weightlifting - Marsters, 7s - Opens, Touch - Opens women (also coach), Soccer - Opens, Nines league - Opens and is coaching the Under-18s netball team.

Atiu’s swimming sensation Wesley Roberts recorded the fastest time in 1200 metre (1.2km) swim after clocking 14 minutes 58 seconds in the Cook Islands Games aquatics event yesterday.

Back on the rock for a break, Roberts has spent two weeks on his home island of Atiu before flying to Rarotonga to participate in the Games.

The 1200m swim was his first race in the ocean held at Muri lagoon. “I’m really happy with the results and it’s always good to win for Atiu,” said Roberts.

On Saturday, Roberts also competed in the athletics races at the National Stadium claiming silver in the 1500 metres run and silver in the 4x400m relay. Last night he was scheduled to compete in the 800m finals.

Aquatics will hold the Boiler Swim competition today at Trader Jacks and Roberts is hoping to break the record of 9:40 minutes.

The latest medal tally and results were not made available to Cook Islands News by the time this edition went to press last night. According to CISNOC the medal tally and official results will be available at 9am each morning.

At 9am yesterday, Mangaia led the open’s grade with nine gold, five silver and five bronze medals followed by Atiu with five gold, four silver and four bronze medals. Aitutaki placed third with four gold, four silver and five bronze medals.

The results for yesterday’s (Monday) Aquatics 1200m swim held at Muri beach are as follows.

Open Mens:1^st Atiu - Wesley Roberts 14.58, 2^nd Aitutaki - Tem Strickland 18.40,  3^rd Aitutaki - Mike 19.25; Open Womens: 1^st Aitutaki - Daniela Ardendorff 18.42, 2^nd Aitutaki - Shelley 19.16, 3^rd Mangaia Adrianna - 26.43. Masters Men: 1^st Mangaia - Roland Neuruer 21.07, 2^nd Mitiaro - Kevin Henderson 22.54, 3^rd Atiu - Andrew 24.09; Masters Women: 1^st Atiu - Serena Hunter 20.42, 2^nd Mangaia - Bernadette 26.51, 3^rd Manihiki - Lawrencia Williams 40.16. Under 18 Men: 1^st Mitiaro - Darius Allsworth 18.26, 2^nd Mangaia - Ioane 19.58; Under 18 Women: 1^st Mangaia - Anais Moana Tierney Quirke 18.46, 2^nd Mangaia - Esther 23.16, 3^rd Rakahanga - Itirangi 25.28.

The results for the Women and Mens 50m free and 50m Back finals held on Saturday 1st October at Vaiana’s are as follows.

U14 Girls 50m Freestyle:1^st Mitiaro - Evah Sosene, 2^nd Atiu - Taraipoia Heather, 3^rd Atiu - Esther Taokia; U18 Womens 50m Freestyle: 1st  Mangaia - Anais Moana Tierney Quirke, 2^nd Mangaia - Esther Miller, 3^rd Rakahanga - Itirangi Pennycook; Open Womens 50m Freestyle: 1^st Aitutaki -  Daniela Ardendorff, 2^nd Mangaia  - Rebecca Tangiataua, 3^rd Aitutaki - Seychelle Carter; Masters Womens 50m Freestyle: 1^st Mangaia - Rebecca Brown, 2^nd Manihiki - Lawrencia Williams.

Under 14 Boys 50m Freestyle: 1^st Rarotonga - Roma Tou, 2^nd Mangaia - Taunga Miller, 3^rd Rarotonga - Inane Manu. Under 18 Mens 50m Freestyle: 1^st Mitiaro - Darius Allsworth, 2^nd Mangaia -  Ioane Tierney, 3^rd Mangaia - Finn Tierney Quirke; Open Mens 50m Freestyle: 1^st Atiu - Wesley Roberts, 2^nd Aitutaki - Tem Strickland, 3^rd Mitiaro - Kanoa Kermode; Masters Mens 50m Freestyle: 1^st Mangaia - Tim Tierney, 2^nd Rarotonga - Marama Nicholas, 3^rd Mitiaro - Kevin Henderson.

U14 Girls 50m Backstroke: 1^st Mitiaro - Evah Sosene, Atiu - Traipoia heather, 3^rd  Mangaia - Esther Taokia; U18 Womens 50m Backstroke: 1^st Mangaia - Anai Tierney Quirke, 2^nd Mangaia - Esther Miller, 3^rd Rakahanga - Itirangi Pennycook; Open Womens 50m Backstroke: 1^st Aitutaki - Daniela Adendorff, 2^nd Mangaia - Rebecca Tangiataua, 3^rd Aitutaki - Mackenzie Wichman; Masters Women 50m Backstroke: 1^st Mangaia - Rebecca Brown, 2^nd Manihiki - Lawrencia Williams.

U14 Boys 50m Backstroke: 1^st Rarotonga - Roma Tou, 2^nd Mangaia - Taunga Miller, 3^rd Mangaia - Edmund Postrygacz; U18 Mens 50m Backstroke         : 1^st Mitiaro - Darius Allsworth, 2^nd Mangaia - Ioane Tierney, 3^rd Mauke - Koru McDonald; Open Mens 50m Backstroke: 1^st Atiu - Wesley Roberts, 2^nd Aitutaki - Tem Strickland, 3^rd Mitiaro - Tumuli Sosene; Masters Men 50m Backstroke: 1^st Rarotonga - Marama Nicholas, 2^nd Mitiaro - Kevin Henderson.              

Today Tuesday, the Aquatics Boiler Swim starts at 1pm at Trader Jacks and followed by the medal presentation. The Spear fishing competition is on again today as an exhibition sport starting at 6am to 12pm for weigh ins at Trader Jacks.

Today’s events: Basketball (National Indoor Arena) : 9am - 8pm; Darts (Tupapa Maraerenga Centre) 9am - 8.30pm; Handball (Nikao Beach Courts) 8am - 6.30pm; Lawn Bowls Semi-finals (Rarotonga Bowling Club) 5.30pm - 7.30pm; Squash (National Indoor Arena) 11am - 9pm; Tennis (Nikao Tennis Courts) 9am - 6pm; Weightlifting (National Auditorium) 8am - 4pm.