17 Jul 2015

Sport: Fiji's Tabakaucoro breaks Pacific Games record

11:51 am on 17 July 2015

Fiji's Banuve Tabakaucoro set a new Pacific Games record in the men's 200m but Papua New Guinea collected the bulk of the medals on day four of athletics competition in Port Moresby.

Tabakaucoro crossed the line in 20.53 seconds to defend his title from four years ago and add to the 100m gold medal won earlier in the week.

PNG's Toea Wisil defended her 200m title and helped PNG win gold in the women's 400m relay, with the hosts also taking the men's relay title.

Miriam Goiye won gold in the women's 1500m as PNG swept the medals podium.

Rellie Kaputin in the women's triple jump, Adrine Monagi in the heptathlon and hurdlers Sharon Kwarula and Wala Gime also won gold in front of their home supporters at Sir John Guise Stadium.

PNG have 17 gold medals and 45 in all after four days of track and field.

There was some success for other nations with Fiji's Rajendra Prasad winning the men's high jump, Samoa's Alexander Rose taking the men's discus and New Caledonia's Nordine Benfodda and Thierry Cibone too strong in the men's 5000m and para shot-put.

Elsewhere in Port Moresby, PNG claimed a fourth consecutive women's football gold medal, edging New Caledonia 1-0 at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium.

Marie Kaipu bagged the only goal of the match in the 21st minute.

In the Bronze playoff, Cook Islands beat Samoa 2-0.

PNG also won gold in the women's and mixed doubles tennis events, with New Caledonia taking the men's title.

Cook Islands golfer William Howard and Papua New Guinea's Kristine Seko remain in front after two rounds at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club.

Overnight leader Howard saw his five-shot advantage cut to one after carding a five over par 77 to to be two over for the tournament.

Defending men's champion Adrien Peres is only one shot back after a second round one over par 73.

In the women's competition, PNG's Seko extended her lead to seven strokes after shooting a 1-over 73 in the second round.

In the team competition, PNG lead both the men's and women's fields by one shot from New Caledonia.