Just rushing into 50 days to go for the Olympics, Oceanian nations have done their continental duty in the Fijian capital, Suva. The city, known for hosting the first-ever Oceanian Championships 34 years ago, has welcomed 19 contesting nations across the region.
Australia, the far best team on the continent, dominated the seven-day Oceanian Area Championships, which included U18, U20 team, para, and Masters events.
In the senior events, Aussies claimed 31 gold, 32 silver, and 25 bronze and broke their previous total medal tally with 86 medals in the 2019 edition in Townsville, Queensland. Like in recent editions, the Regional Australia Team (RAT) competed separately as they're not eligible for the medals or classification by the rules.
During the week, sixteen championship records fell, plus an equalling one in high jump, mostly by Australians.
Luke Van Ratingen clocked 45.84 in the 400 metres final to clinch the continental title with an event record which sees off sub-46 seconds for the first time.
Peyton Craig, the recent area U20 record holder in the 800 metres, has fiercely battled to the gold with his team-mate Luke Boyes. He just claimed the victory with 1:46.33 - only 0.06-second lead over Boyes, cutting the previous championship best mark three seconds in once!
In the men's long jump, Liam Adcock registered first legal 8 meters mark (8.05m) in the Championships to securing gold as former U18 Oceania champion Aiden Hinson took the victory in triple jump.
Australian 200 metres national champion Torrie Lewis proved her form in Suva by clocking the 23.14 championship record. Lewis broke Toea Wisil's previous mark by 0.10 despite 1.7 head-wind.
New Zealanders mostly succeeded in distance events, including a triple-double in 1500-metre events. The Kiwi quartet in the mixed relay did well, clocking 3:26.12, a national record. In overall, they secured 10 titles, six of them came in women's.
Kudos to Ata Maama Tu'Utafaiva from Tonga, who became the only individual winner among the Aussies and the Kiwis. Maama retained her title in shot put with a 16.24 mark and collected her sixth Oceania medal in the event.
