National Championships
SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES
SOLOMON ISLANDS 2023
Father and daughter team Brentt Jones and Taleyah Jones represented Athletics Norfolk Island at the South Pacific Games held in the Solomon Islands 19 November to 2 December 2023.
Taleyah was selected to compete in Shotput, Discus and Hammer Throw. She managed to make the top eight hammer throwers and threw a personal best of 42.74m. We are very proud of her achievements and progress in the sport over such a short period of time and we are certain she will become a tough competitor as she gains experience over the upcoming years.
Brentt was selected to compete in Hammer Throw and dusted off his glove after a long break from the sport. He managed to place 6th in the event with a throw of 36.55m which is a tremendous effort - as the most senior thrower at this competition.
Both competitors are commended for their efforts under difficult conditions with very high temperatures and extensive travel.
Oceania Cup
SAIPAN 2023
Taleyah Jones, Norfolk Island’s rising female hammer thrower, showcased her skills and determination in wet conditions to clinch the bronze medal in the open women’s hammer throw event at the prestigious Oceania Cup Athletics Competition held in Saipan, Micronesia 22-24 June.
Taleyah was selected by the Oceania Athletics Association selection panel to represent Melanesia in the regional competition. The competition, featuring some of Oceania’s most talented athletes, was a team-based competition comprising of Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia and Australia.
Prior to the competition, Taleyah was also selected to attend an elite throwers camp on the Gold Coast where she was coached and mentored by some of Oceania’s best throws coaches. This great opportunity was provided by Oceania Athletics Association and this invaluable experience will assist Taleyah with her preparation for the Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands later this year.
WORLD ATHLETICS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023
Athletics Norfolk Island was fortunate to secure a spot on the start line of the most important competition in international cross country running recently – The 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championship.
The course was pegged out on the slopes of Mount Panorama in Bathurst, Australia and was classed as ‘the toughest course in the events history’. It was the events 44th edition and only the second time the Oceania region has hosted the event.
Koszta Deszecsar was the local athlete who met the selection criteria and traveled with manager Douglas Donaldson to Bathurst, to compete in the under 20’s – 8 km (2K loop) race - lining up on the start line amongst a world class field. The event was attended by 48 different countries, showcasing 453 of the best cross-country athletes in the world.
Koszta ran a measured, determined race in seriously hard conditions that proved too difficult for many, crossing the line in 40:12.
Athletics Norfolk Island is proud of their affiliation with World Athletics and the continued opportunity provided to young Island athletes. Thanks to Koszta and Douglas for your outstanding representation, we’re sure it was a memorable experience you’ll carry with you for many years.
OCEANIA CHAMPIONSHIPS MACKAY 2022
Norfolk Island had three athletes representing at the Oceania Athletics Championships in Mackay, Australia from 1-12 June 2022.
Brentt Jones proved that he still has the skills to collect a medal by throwing an impressive 37.43m in the M50-54 Hammer Throw, bringing home a gold medal.
Brentt's daughter Taleyah Jones competed in the WU18 Hammer Throw (3kg) with a distance of 37.97m and the WU20 Hammer Throw (4kg) with a distance of 30.89m. Taleyah placed 6th in both events.
Dayne O'Hara competed in the M30-34 Pole Vault, achieving a jump of 2.90m and taking home a gold medal.
Congratulations to the athletes for their excellent results!
OCEANIA ATHLETICS VIRTUAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2021
Oceania Athletics Association hosted a virtual competition for all Oceania federations in December 2021.
Norfolk's participants had fantastic success with six athletes competing in a total of eight events which resulted in eight medals!!
Brentt Jones - 1st M50-54 Hammer Throw
Taleyah Jones - 1st WU18 Hammer Throw
Shannara Grambeau - 1st W35-40 Javelin
Shannara Grambeau - 2nd W35-40 Discus
Rose Evans - 2nd W55-59 Discus
Rose Evans - 2nd W55-59 Shot Put
Dylan Menzies - 1st M50-54 100m Sprint
Kingston Menzies - 1st MU14 100m Sprint
Congratulations to all participants for an excellent achievement!
MASTERS MINI VIRTUAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2021
On Sunday 24 January 2021, Athletics Norfolk Island hosted a master’s mini athletics competition as part of the Oceania Masters Athletics (OMA) ‘Virtual Competition’. Athletics clubs from each federation of the Oceania region were invited to participate by holding their own mini competitions and submitting the results to OMA. The results were then merged to determine the placings for the whole Oceania region.
There were 459 athletes from 6 Federations (AUS, NZL, COK, PYF, FIJ, NFI) who entered the virtual competition. In comparison, the Mackay Championships in 2019 attracted 436 athletes from 10 Federations. So, the pandemic may have prevented one big event this year, but it was not going to stop the diehard athletes from giving it a go.
Norfolk had only a small contingent of participants willing to give it a go - however had great success overall. Four athletes competed in a total of ten events which resulted in four ‘medals’!!!
Brentt Jones placed 1st in hammer throw and 3rd in weight throw for his age group.
Shannara Grambeau placed 2nd in discus and 2nd in javelin for her age group.
Dylan Menzies placed 2nd in shotput for his age group.
Cara Buffett also competed, however missed out on ‘medal’ placing.
OCEANIA MASTERS ATHLETICS Championships MACKAY 2019
Athletics Norfolk Island sent representatives to the Oceania Masters Athletics championships in Mackay in August 2019.
Three Norfolk representatives managed to compete in a total of 12 events. From these 12 events 6 medals were won!
Dylan Menzies medalled in all 4 of his events bringing home Silver in High Jump, Bronze in 60m Sprint, Bronze in 100m Sprint, and Bronze in Shotput.
Geoff Gardner won Bronze in Shotput, Bronze in Throws Pentathlon, 4th in Weight Throw, 5th in Discus, and 6th in Javelin.
Rose Evans placed 4th in Discus, 5th in Javelin and 6th in Shotput.
REGIONAL Championships
TOWNSVILLE 2019
Nathaniel Kalsrap and TK Morgan represented Norfolk Island in the Oceania Regional Championships in Townsville in June 2019.
Nathaniel competed in the U18 100m and 200m sprint placing 11th and 13th respectively.
TK also ran a good race in the U20 100m, placing 18th in the overall results of a large field of athletes. He also placed 4th in the U20 Javelin event.
Thanks go to their coach Tim Rogers who accompanied them on the trip. It was a great experience for these two youngsters!
Melanesian Championships
Vanuatu 2018
Charlie Carr, in her second international competition, represented Norfolk Island at the Melanesian Athletics Championships in Port Vila, Vanuatu last. After mixed results at the Oceania Championships in Fiji in 2017, Charlie was keen to improve on her personal best performances in both the Girls Under 18 High Jump and the 200 metres.
Charlie tackled the High Jump on Thursday afternoon and returned to the track for the 200 metres on Friday afternoon. Rose Evans accompanied Charlie to the Championships and they were lodged at the Athletes village in the very comfortable environment of the Port Vila Holiday Inn.
Regional Championships Suva, Fiji 2017
Norfolk Island was proudly represented at the Oceania Athletics Area Championships in Suva Fiji by two Island girls. With over 600 athletes and 22 member federations represented, the competition was fierce however Norfolk made a big name for itself – even with the smallest federation team. Team Manager, Rose Evans was delighted to accompany athletes Charlie Carr (flag bearer) and Tayanita Robertson (team captain) to wave the Norfolk flag.
The weather in Fiji was unfavourable with rain and wind on most days. The girls adjusted well though and kept friendly dispositions towards other athletes, with many other competitors and officials commenting on how happy they always were.
Melanesian Championships Suva, Fiji 2016
Brianna Stephens represented Norfolk Island at the Melanesian Championships in Suva, Fiji 7-9 July 2016.
Brianna was accompanied by her mum/manager Rose Evans who was proudly able to witness Bri win a gold medal in the women's hammer throw with a personal best distance of 42.84m.
This was Bri's first gold medal in a national competition so not only was she proud to bring home a gold for Norfolk Island, but she will also be able to add it to her collection of medals she has already accumulated in previous competitions.
Thanks go to her coach Brentt Jones for mentoring Bri to this achievement.
Pacific Games
Papua New Guinea 2015
Brianna Stephens proudly represented Norfolk Island at the Pacific Games championships in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 13-18 July 2015.
During a packed stadium event, Bri managed to secure a silver medal in the women's hammer throw with a distance of 42.77m.
Bri's mum/manager accompanied her on the trip and was able to watch the event unfold as well as the medal ceremony.
Brianna's calm attitude accompanied by her years of commitment to training are what enabled her to succeed... along with excellent coaching and support from Brentt Jones.
Regional Championships Cairns, Queensland 2015
Brianna Stephens represented Norfolk Island at the Oceania Regional Championships in Cairns 8-10 May 2015.
With some tough competition from Australia, Samoa and New Zealand, Brianna placed 5th in the women's hammer throw with a distance of 40.57m.
Melanesian Championships Rarotonga, Cook Islands 2014
Norfolk Island was represented at the Melanesian Championships in Raratonga, Cook Islands 24-26 June 2014 by a single athlete, Brianna Stephens.
Brianna proudly carried the flag at the opening ceremony on the beach before competing in the championships.
In the Junior women's hammer throw Brianna just missed out on a medal, placing 4th with a distance of 42.28m.
Brianna again missed out on a medal in the Senior women's hammer throw, placing 4th with a distance of 42.63m.
Bri was accompanied by her mum/manager and also had her grandmother in attendance for this competition.
Mini Pacific Games
Wallis & Futuna 2013
During the Pacific Mini Games in Wallis & Futuna, Norfolk Island resident Brianna Stephens won a Bronze Medal in the Open Women’s Hammer Throw event.
Eight months of training paid off for Brianna and her coach Brentt Jones (previous medal winner) and they are extremely happy with her progression and achievement in such a short time. Brianna travelled to Wallis & Futuna as the only representative from Norfolk Island and proudly carried the flag in the opening ceremony on Monday.
Her win proved that commitment, determination and persistence pay off when you put in the time and effort required to accomplish your goals.
Regional Championships Papeete, Tahiti 2013
Brianna Stephens represented Norfolk Island at the Oceania Regional Championships in Papeete Tahiti 3-5 June 2013.
Bri was accompanied by her manager Paula O'Hara for the trip.
Being only Bri's second national athletics representation, she performed well with plenty of competition.
In the women's hammer throw event Brianna threw a distance of 32.81m, placing 6th.
Regional Championships CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA 2012
Athletics Norfolk Island was represented at the ‘Oceania Regional Championships’ in Cairns Australia by Brianna Stephens and Daniel (Pickles) Griffiths.
With the Championships split into two regional divisions our athletes were up against strong competition from some of our Pacific Island neighbours. In Brianna's first international competition in which she had the honour of being the Norfolk Island flag bearer at the opening ceremony, she won bronze in the Women's Under 20 Discus and in the Women's Under 20 Shot Put. To add to her collection she picked up a silver medal in the Women's Under 20 High Jump.
Pickles who is now an experienced competitor at this level, won bronze for his efforts in the Men's Under 20 Shot Put, a silver medal in the Men's Open High Jump and in the Men's Under 20 High Jump he jumped a personal best and set a new national record of 1.83 metres.
Both athletes are coached by Brentt Jones and with their success it is hoped it will inspire others in Brentts training squad to work hard to secure a place in the team for the Pacific Games in Wallis and Futuna next year and to the Oceania Area Championships that will be held in Tahiti in June, 2013. Thanks to Brentt for giving so freely of his time to assist our young athletes and also to Paula O'Hara for her role as the team manager in Cairns.
Regional championships
apia, samoa 2011
Athletics Norfolk Island was pleased to be able to compete in the ‘Oceania Regional Championships’ in Apia, Samoa 21-23 June 2011.
Travelling from Norfolk via New Zealand, the small team of only two, consisted of athlete- Daniel (Pickles) Griffiths; and coach -Tim Rogers. Daniel competed in the high jump event on day 1 of the competition alongside athletes from 22 federations from throughout the Pacific.
Athletics Norfolk Island was pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to Daniel, allowing him to compete in his first major competition off-Island.
Regional Championships CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA 2010
Norfolk Island was pleased to represent at the Oceania Athletics in Cairns. Sam Taylor and Michael Griffiths worked hard by showing some great results in the final weeks of their training.
Both Michael (19 years) and Sam (16 years) competed in the Under 20's division in the Javelin and High jump events. In the final weeks of training both boys showed real improvements in their confidence and their ability. Though one of the smallest teams competing in the Championships (along with America Samoa), the boys presented some great results.
Accompanying Sam and Michael was Tim Rogers, Coach and Team Manager. Tim coached a range of school children to try and increase athletics on the Island which has been a great success.