Samoa's Johnny Malua claims first place in the Polynesian Men's 100m. Photo credit: Oceania Athletics.
By Michelle Curran
Executive Communications Manager, PCBL/Pasifika TV
Pacific athletes are increasingly making their presence known in track and field events across the region, as well as on a global stage.
Athletics has gained recent traction among Pasifika, with the likes of Alex Rose claiming a bronze medal for discus at the 2025 World Championships, proving Pacific athletes can cut it at the top level.
In March, over 140 Polynesian athletes hailing from American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu travelled to Aotearoa to contest the revived Polynesian Track and Field Championships after a 10-year hiatus.
Held in partnership with Athletics New Zealand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), the Polynesian event was integrated into the 2026 New Zealand Track and Field Championships, staged over four days at West Auckland’s Trusts Arena.
Speaking at the televised Track Stars event on day three of the championships, Cam Mitchell, Athletics New Zealand Chief Executive says there has been a renewed effort to boost athletic competition across the Pacific, particularly with the Brisbane 2032 Olympics looming.
“Athletics is a growing sport among Pacific nations and as part of the New Zealand Sport Diplomacy Strategy (2025-2030), our goal is to help Pacific countries affiliated with New Zealand to prepare and perform ahead of the Brisbane Olympics,” Cam says.
“The return of the Championships reflects New Zealand’s commitment to supporting athletics in the region and fostering pathways for athletes and officials to the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.”
Felicity Bollen, MFAT’s Pacific Connections Director says sport is a universal language, and one the region speaks very well.
“Athletics is a growing sport among Pacific, and it seemed like an obvious choice to invest in,” she says.
“Our Pacific brothers and sisters are incredible athletes, and sport is an area where New Zealand can foster relations and help open doors in the region.
“Success breeds success and seeing the likes of the Cook Islands Max Teuruaa break the 110m hurdles national record, and American Samoa’s Matthew Fiso better his nation’s triple jump record is inspiring.”
Samoa’s athletes dominated the televised Track Stars event, with Alex winning the men’s discus, Symone Tafuna’i winning the Polynesian Women’s 100m in her first appearance representing Samoa, and Johnny Malua crossing the line in first in the Polynesian Men’s 100m.
Meanwhile, the Athletics NZ CE says this event is a key stepping stone in helping the Pacific prepare for a rare home‑region Olympic Games.
Pacific athletes are increasingly making their presence known in track and field events across the region. Photo credit: Oceania Athletics.
“Developing our Pacific coaches and officials are a big part of that preparation,” Cam says.
“In the week leading up to the Championships, our Pacific contingent took part in a week of training and mentoring at AUT Millenium, and five Pacific representatives ended up officiating at the competition.”
He adds that Athletics NZ, with support from MFAT, is planning to run more training camps, in the region and Aotearoa to continue empowering the growing Pacific contingent of athletes and officials.
“Coming up this year, we have the Oceania Area Games followed by the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where we will have a number of Pacific athletes competing, and we are looking forward to seeing how they are progressing.”
Visit the Athletics NZ website for more information.