Saint Joseph’s Tenaru made an emphatic start to the athletics competition at the 2025 Solomon Islands Secondary School Games (SISSG25), collecting three gold medals on day one of the track and field events.
Bethalyn Tatamara and Michael Horikura both claimed gold in the senior 5000m events for girls and boys respectively, while Tenaru also topped the podium in the senior boys’ javelin with Alfred Hairiu delivering a winning throw on his School Games debut.
In the girls’ 5000m final, Tatamara powered to victory ahead of her schoolmate Raunala, who secured silver. Constant from White River CHS took bronze.
In the boys’ senior 5000m, Horikura crossed the finish line first, roared on by a large and vocal Tenaru contingent.
He clocked 17 minutes 28 seconds, beating George C. of White River CHS who claimed silver with a time of 17 minutes 50 seconds.
George Leleo of Nguvia CHS rounded out the podium with bronze.
In the senior boys’ javelin event, Tenaru secured another gold as Hairiu outperformed the field with a remarkable effort in his first School Games appearance.
Joseph Mede of King George VI claimed silver, while Su’u Secondary’s Anthony took bronze.
Elsewhere in field events, Christine Forau of Saint Nicholas College triumphed in the junior boys’ javelin category. Bethiwel of King George VI took silver, and Devine of White River CHS earned bronze.
By TIMOTHY INIFIRI JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
