Pacific Games Beach Volleyball - Tuvalu’s Isaac Ampex serves in their quarterfinal match against Fiji as his partner Malosa Saaga looks on. The Tuvaluans beat Fiji’s Wayne Fisher and Solimailagi Valentine by 2 sets to 1 to setup a semi-final with Solomon Islands’ Ray Quan and Tam Teriba. 30 November 2023 Photo: RNZ Pacific/Junior Maealasia
The stage is set for the Pacific Games men's and women's beach volleyball semi-finals at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara today.
Hosts the Solomon Islands men's team will take on Tuvalu, the first surprise package in the event, while Australia squares off against Northern Marianas, the second surprise inclusion in the top four.
Tuvalu recorded a 2-1 win against Fiji in the quarter-finals.
For the women, defending champions Vanuatu squares off against top Oceania team Australia as Fiji meets the Solomon Islands team.
The Vanuatu pairing of Majabelle Lawac and Sherysyn Toko defeated Tahiti's Teikihuvanaka/Taquaitahuata 2-0 (32-21, 21-14) in their quarterfinal clash on Thursday.
Australia also defeated Tuvalu 2-0 in their quarters clash.
Men's semi-finalists: Australia (Ben Hood/D'Artagnan Potts) vs Northern Mariana Islands (Andrew Scott Johnson/Logan Jon Mister); Tuvalu (Isaac Ampex/Malosa Saaga) vs Solomon Islands (Ray Quan/Tam Teriba).
Women's Semi-finalists: Australia (Stefani Fejes/Jana Milutinovic) vs Vanuatu (Lawac Majabelle/Toko Sherysyn), Fiji Laite Nima/Seraia Speed) vs Solomon Islands (Hannah Donga/Kirstain Puia).
Kiwis claim 1,500m titles
New Zealand has come in first and second in both the men's and women's 1500 metres at the Pacific Games.
Tillie Hollyer took the women's gold medal in a time of 4 minutes and 26.06 seconds, while compatriot Peyton Leigh was second, and Tahiti's Angele Richard third.
In the men's, Jack Paine took gold in a time of 3 minutes and 50.97s for New Zealand.
His fellow countryman Liam O'Donnell was second, and the Cook Islands' Alex Beddoes was third.
Fiji's double gold winner Yashnil Karan did not compete in the race after winning the 5,000m and 10,000m races.
Top four in netball semi-finals
The top four play-off in the netball competition get to face-off today at the Friendship Hall.
Unbeaten Tonga tops pool A and will meet Samoa, runner-up from Pool B in the semifinals.
Fiji is also unbeaten at the top of Pool B and will square off against Papua New Guinea.
The surprise exclusion is defending 2019 Pacific Games champions the Cook Islands, who were beaten by both Tonga and PNG in pool play.
Tonga, Oceania winners this year and 2019 silver medallist, has looked strong throughout the competition.
They had defeated Samoa four times in the last two seasons and also played at the Netball World Cup in South Africa in July.
Fiji, former Games netball champs, is on a comeback trail and have also performed well so far at the Honiara competition.
Wallis and Futuna won gold and silver in the men's discuss throw event on Thursday. 30 November 2023 Photo: Pacific Games Media
Wallis and Futuna win men's discus
Wallis and Futuna came first and second in the men's discus.
Stephen Mailagi took the gold with a throw of 48.69 metres, more than a metre and a half ahead of second place-getter, compatriot Tapuakitau Lakalaka.
Samoa's Nathaniel Sulupo took bronze with a throw of 46.72m
Mailagi told the Pacific Games News Service that he is honoured to represent Wallis and Futuna and his family.
"Words cannot explain how I feel. I have one more event to go (the men's shot put on Friday) and I hope to maintain this momentum," he said.
Touch rugby mixed event
Papua New Guinea, the defending men's mixed touch champs, started their campaign with two wins and a loss on Thursday.
They defeated Niue and Solomon Islands but lost their last match 9-3 to Cook Islands.
Fiji was leading the points table after recording two wins and a draw.
Fiji looked promising beating Samoa 9-7, Solomon Islands 9-4, and then finishing with a 3-3 draw with Niue.
Samoa is third with 2 wins and one loss.
The round robin matches continue at DC Park on Friday ahead of Saturday's medal matches.
Nauru wins more powerlifting medals
Nauru continued to dominate the powerlifting podium at Maranatha Hall on Thursday as the sport reached its final rounds for men in the 93kg, 105kg, 120kg, and 120 kg+ events.
Jesse Roland won gold in the men's raw 93kg final with a total lift of 735kg.
Caledonia's Axel Michel Raymond claimed silver with a total lift of 710 kg, while Tahiti's Manutea Ozoux won bronze with a total life of 695kg.
Nauru's Roy Detabene also won gold in the 105kg event with a sweeping lift of 790kg.
Silver was claimed by Fiji's Salacieli Tamanitadruku, whose total lift 702.5 kg, while Tahitian athlete Matahi Tinorupua Papai took bronze with a 675kg mark.
Another gold for Nauru was added by Barassi Bottelanga in the 120kg, totalling 780kg with Fiji's Kurt Wise finishing second and Solomon Islands' Michael Maomaiasi in at third.
Samoan heavyweight Oliva Kirisome, competing in the 120 kg+ won gold in the event, followed by American Samoa's Justin Joseph Pedro and his countryman John Faleomalama.
Thursday's final powerlifting events also marked the conclusion of Sol2023 action at Maranatha Hall, which has seen stars rise and records tumble over the two weeks of the Games.
The 4x400m men's relay medal winners; PNG, Fiji, Vanuatu. Photo: Pacific Games Media
PNG claim 4x400m relay titles
Papua New Guinea claimed both gold medals on offer in the men's and women's 4x400m relay final at Honiara's National Stadium on Thursday.
The PNG's men's team finished in 3minutes 13.53 seconds to claim gold, ahead of Fiji and Vanuatu.
The women followed with their own winning performance, ensuring PNG had won both titles.