Cook Islands Patricia Taea outclasses Pacific sprint queen Toea Wisil

It has been a massive day for the final events on the Athletics calendar on the penultimate day of the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Port Vila.

Cook Island’s Patricia Taea has set the first record for her country, winning gold in the Women’s 200m race beating Pacific Champion Toea Wisil from Papua New Guinea in a time of 24.16 seconds.

Wisiltook silver in 25.13 seconds, while her teammate Afure Adah won the bronze medal.

There was high expectation from the crowd for Wisil to get the win but the screaming faded as Taeacrossed the line first in the surprise result.

Taea was elated with her victory.

“I am out of words to describe how happy I am. It is a surprise for me to beat Papua New Guinea,” she told the Van2017 News Service.

“But I am happy for Ms Wisil who has run her best – she is a strong runner. However I have also tried my best to come first in this race. It is the first ever 200m for me to race in and to win.”

Taea added it was also her first gold medal and that her teammate who ran in the 800m race also won a gold medal.

“We both just made history for Cook Islands. This first gold medal I won will always be remembered and it is my memorial experience,” she said.

In the Men’s 200m event, Papua New Guinea’s Namzie-Lee Maria won gold in a time of 21.66 seconds; his fellow countryman Theo Piniaugot silver, while Vanuatu’s Brandy Mento won bronze.

 

Photo source Van2017/Facebook. Caption: Cook Island’s Patricia Taea wins gold in the 200m race