Half Marathon

Vanuatu runner socks it to the competition by winning gold without shoes

Kuras secured victory in one hour 29 minutes and 55 seconds in Apia, 15 seconds ahead of Solomon Islands' Dianah Matekali - who was wearing shoes.

After the race, the 20-year-old champion told the Pacific Games News Service: “Yes, I won it with only socks on.

“Wearing socks is a personal decision that I made because I had never run with shoes on before, so I didn’t feel comfortable running in shoes at these Games.

"When I tried the shoes on, my feet felt too heavy and I didn’t like it.”

Vanuatu wins gold in women’s half marathon

Kuras was followed by Solomon Islands duo Dianah Matekali and Sharon Firisua in second and third place respectively.  

The women’s half marathon was the last event for Vanuatu at the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games.

Fiji’s Avikash Lal won the men’s event.

Samuel Aragaw of Tahiti won the silver medal and Derek Mandell of Guam won bronze.

 

Photo VASANOC

     

PNG takes Gold in men’s half marathon

 And Bisamo ended Papua New Guinea’s dominance in the XV Pacific Games track and field events on a high note.

The final year Kabaleo Teachers College student completed the 21km race in 1:14:11 seconds.