Toea Wisil

Wisil wins fourth gold of Pacific Mini Games with back-to-back titles

The Olympian captured the women’s 200 metres crown before helping Papua New Guinea win women’s 4x400m relay gold at the Oleai Sports Complex.

Wisil, who had already won the 100m and 4x100m relay titles, topped a Papua New Guinea one-two-three in the 200m, clocking 24.23 secs.

Leonie Beu came second in 24.44 with Isila Apkup third in 24.49.

Wisil then joined Beu and Apkup and Edna Boafob to win the women’s 4x400m crown in 3:52.76.

New Caledonia sealed silver in 4:05.71, with Australia completing the podium in 4:19.45.

Wisil and Schuster named Oceania’s best athletes

Held in Qatar, the awards recognise the achievements of the National Olympic Committees, athletes and distinguished members of the Olympic family.

Wisil, dubbed the Pacific sprint queen, is a former Olympian who completed a historic triple gold in the 2019 Pacific Games in the 100m, 200m, and 400m.

The 31-year-old said representing PNG was a privilege.

"There's a sense of overwhelming pride to be recognised as the best female athlete of the Pacific Games," Wisil said.

PNG’s sprint queen Toea Wisil

It was not always smooth-sailing for the Jiwaka woman.

Two years ago, the sprint queen was outclassed in the 200m by Cook Islands Patricia Taea at the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu.

Then she had to sit out the Commonwealth Games last year. But she’s on the comeback trail and is determined to maintain her title at the Pacific Games. 

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO LISTEN TO TOEA WISIL'S EPISODE:

PNG track queen arrives for Games

Also arriving is Nelson Stone, the 400m men’s champion of the South Pacific.

Both were among 30 overseas based PNG athletes who arrived after midday today in Port Moresby.

They were met on arrival at the Port Moresby International Airport by PNG Chef de Mission, Richard Kassman.

Wisil who lives and trains in the United States said she is happy to be running on home soil to defend her title.

But she is not taking her rivals from New Caledonia, Tahiti and Fiji for granted.

“I am in great form and looking forward to the tracks,” she told LOOP PNG.