By Eleanor Gee

Five elite Tongan athletes took to the track and field at Teufaiva Stadium today, 5 June, to continue perfecting their techniques in the lead up to the Pacific Games to be held in Samoa next month.

Head Coach Tevita Fauonuku (a former sprinter and Tonga representative) told Matangi Tonga he thinks the five athletes, ‘Atamaama Tu’utafaiva, Taina Halasima, Heamatangi Tu'ivai, Talatala Po’oi, and Mosese Foliaki, have a good chance of winning medals in their events.

“My aim for them is to come away with five gold medals. The games will be hard, PNG is very tough, Fiji, and New Caledonia.”

Shotput

Shotputter, ‘Atamaama Tu’utafaiva (22), who is continuing to improve her performance at each competition, is regarded as the favourite for the gold medal in shotput. She will also compete in the discus event.

“Right now, in the Pacific, she is the number one shotputter,” said Tevita.

‘Atamaama has won gold medals at the 2014 Oceania Championships and in the 2017 Pacific Mini Games. She competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and made the finals where she threw a personal best.

Sprints

Sprinter, Taina Halasima (21), will be competing in the 100m and 200m events at the games. She is no stranger to high level competition having represented Tonga in the 100m at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Hurdles

Heamatangi Tu'ivai (29), won silver medals at the 2013 Pacific Mini Games in the 400m and 400m hurdles and he aims to repeat or better that effort at the games.

2017 Pacific Mini Games gold medalist (110m hurdles), Talatala Po’oi, is also looking to win gold at the games in the 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles.

Decathlon

Mosese Foliaki will be very busy at the games competing in four events; decathlon, high jump, pole vault, and the 110m hurdles. He also competed at the 2017 Pacific Mini Games winning silver in the pole vault and bronze in high jump.

The runners will also take part in the 100m and 400m relays at the games.

Prior to Samoa, Tevita said the athletes will compete in the Oceania Athletics Championships held in Townsville, Australia between 25-28 June. They will also compete in the Fiji International Grand Prix held on 6 July.

"We are training twice a day, Monday to Saturday."

However, Tevita acknowledged he needs to ensure “the athletes peak at the right time” at the games, not before or after.

He said these local athletes are some of the best he has ever trained. Ten athletes are locals based in Tonga and two athletes based in the USA and New Zealand will join the team soon.

The 16^th Pacific Games will be held in Apia, Samoa, between the 7 – 20 July.

Tonga's Athletics team:

1. ‘Atamaama Tu’utafaiva (shotput, discus)
2. Taina Halasima (100m, 200m)
3. Heamatangi Tu'ivai (400m, 400m Hurdles)
4. Talatala Po’oi (110m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles)
5. Mosese Foliaki, (Decathlon, High Jump, Pole Vault, 110m Hurdles)
6. Tevita Pone, (100m, 200m)
7. Maikolo Folau, (100m, 200m)
8. Ronald Fotofili (400m, 800m)
9. Falakiko Fisifau (400m, 800m)
10. Kaisa Pakileata (Pole Vault)
11. Pita Vi (400m Hurdles – USA)
12. Peauope Suli (100m, 200m – NZ)

Head Coach: Tevita Fauonuku

Assistant Coach: Lolo Tu'ifua