Golden Finish in Honiara | Pacific Games Day Five

Australia’s golden campaign came to a fitting finish in Honiara, Solomon Islands on the fifth and final day of athletics action at the 2023 Pacific Games, led by a sprint double by Calab Law and victories to Connor Murphy and Samantha Dale.

Sprint sensation Calab Law (Andrew Iselin) torched his way to the double when backing up his 100m gold with a scorching hot 20.60 (+1.0) performance in the Men’s 200m, executing a clinical bend before showing his competitors a clean pair of heels in the straight.

A busy Pacific Games campaign for Law featured six races across the five day athletics program, with the 19-year-old returning home on a strong foundation upon to build his 2024 Olympic bid.

“Before the race I was pretty tired, but it’s nothing caffeine can’t fix. I knew it was only one more race so I could just smash it out, that was my sixth race,” Law said.

Triple jumper Connor Murphy (Andrew Murphy) saved one of the best performances of the championships for last when leaping to a windy 16.85m (+2.5) to claim an emphatic gold, delighting the crowd at the National Stadium in Honiara with a new meet record.

Also impressing on the runway was Australia’s long jump duo of Samantha Dale (Andrew Murphy) and Katie Gunn (Matthew Horsnell), landing the top two positions on the podium with a pair of six metre leaps.

Setting a new Pacific Games record, Dale’s 6.42m (+0.6) effort on her opening attempt set the tone for the competition and proved a golden distance, while Gunn’s 6.03m (+1.4) leap clinched the silver.

“It’s nice getting a record and having your name secured the sheet as the next time comes around. It is exciting to have that at the Pacific Games,” Dale said.

“It’s always good having another Aussie out there, I think us [Katie] and the 100m were the only event with another Aussie in it. I love competing with another Aussie, it makes you feel like at least you can talk to someone and cheer each other on.”

400m hurdler Isabella Guthrie (Angus McEntyre) broke an 18 month drought in the personal best stakes when tearing to a career best run of 57.77-seconds, good enough for silver behind France’s Loan Ville (57.26).

Attacking the front half of the race, Guthrie laid it all on the line in her bid for the Pacific Games title, rewarded with a breakthrough personal best to open her 2024 campaign.

Australians at the 2023 Pacific Games (Athletics):

Gold – Nash Lowis (Javelin, 74.40m), Mia Scerri (Heptathlon, 5624 points), Calab Law (100m, 10.40 / 200m, 20.60), Georgia Harris (100m, 11.70), Jack Lunn (800m, 1:48.43), Ellie Beer (400m, 52.67), Mitchell Lightfoot (110m Hurdles, 14.19), Imogen Breslin (100m Hurdles, 13.81), Samantha Dale (Long Jump, 6.42m), Connor Murphy (Triple Jump, 16.85m), Desleigh Owusu (Triple Jump, 13.23m)

Silver – Lachlan Kennedy (100m, 10.49), Katie Gunn (Long Jump, 6.03m), Isabella Guthrie (400m Hurdles, 57.77)

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 1/12/2023