22 countries will be participating at the Oceania Athletics Championship which starts at the ANZ Stadium this morning.
Apart from the more than 600 athletes and officials, the event has been given a high profile status with the presence of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) president Lord Sebastian Coe and Valerie Adams, four‑time world champion, three‑time World Indoor champion, two‑time Olympic and three‑time Commonwealth Games shot put champion.
This will also allow the senior athletes to have automatic qualification for participation in the IAAF World Championships in London on August 13‑14 this year.
The countries that will be participating include Fiji, American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands , New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Northern Marianas, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesian , Regional Australia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu , Vanuatu and Wallis & Futuna.
The Pacific sprint queen Toea Wisil is the favorite to win the 100m and 200m event but will be provided by a tough competition from Fiji’s sprinters Makereta Naulu (100m & 200m), Sisilia Seavula (100m & 200m), Laisani Moceisawana (100m) and Elenani Tinai.
Meanwhile Samoa’s sprinter Jeremy Dodson, is the clear favourite for the mens 100m and 200m while Fiji will be banking on Aaron Powell (100m & 200m), Albert Miller Jnr (100m), Samuela Railoa (200m & 400m) and Sailosi Tubuilagi.
The Oceania Athletics Championship will start today and will end on Friday at the ANZ Stadium.
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