4 Sep 2013

Sport: New Caledonia wins more gold at Pacific Games

10:08 am on 4 September 2013

New Caledonia has made a golden start to day two of the Pacific Mini Games in Wallis and Futuna with Anne Beaufils winning the ten thousand metres title in the pouring rain.

In a unique scenario, just two runners took part in the race, after the Solomon Islands entrant withdrew from the event, with Tahiti's Elodie Mevel claiming the silver medal.

"Anne Beaufils' gold medal time of just under 45 minutes (44.11.96) was almost five minutes slower than when she won the same event at the Pacific Games in Noumea two years ago."

But she says with the weather conditions challenging it was important to take care on the track.

So I didn't to make a good time but I tried to stay at first and keep a little distance between me and the second runner and to stay at the same result.

Her win makes it a clean sweep for New Caledonia in the ten thousand metres event.

The French territory have now won three of the four gold medals awarded in the athletics competition so far, with another twelve up for grabs throughout the day.