Dillay, Omar heading to Oceania Grand Prix

Hurdler Dexter Dillay and sprinter Tyrone Omar will soon be competing against the best in the region in the 2006 Oceania Grand Prix Series.

This according to Northern Marianas Athletics secretary general Robin Sapong, who disclosed Thursday that the two were nominated by the federation and that he received word from the Oceania Athletics Association executive director that both will be able to compete.

The Grand Prix will kick off on Dec. 9 and another competition will be held on Dec. 11 at the Fiji Post Stadium in Lacaula Bay, Suva.

The competitors will then head to Apia, Samoa for the third and final leg of the Series in conjunction with the 2006 Oceania Under 18/Open Track and Field Championships to be held from Dec. 14 to Dec. 16.

OAA will cover all expenses of the two athletes, except for entrance fees. With the two competing, NMA would only need to shoulder $774.

Details on the OAA website showed that 80 nominations were received by OAA from around the region.

“The Series, which is supported by the Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC), gives island federation athletes an opportunity to compete at the very highest level for prize money across each of the disciplines. In 2006, there were more than 80 nominations received from around the Pacific, making this year’s selection the most sought after to date. ONOC’s continued generous support of the Series ensures the growth of the sport in our region,” a statement on the website read.

Papua New Guinea heads the selection with 13 athletes, while Fiji has nine athletes but the delegation is expected to grow with local athletes for the Dec. 9 and Dec. 11 events.

The Grand Prix team will also be joined by athletes from the Oceania High Performance Training Centre.

Aside from Dillay and Omar, the Series will feature athletes such as Jack Howard of the Federated States of Micronesia and Justin Andre of Guam, who have both competed on Saipan for the Micronesia Athletics Championships and the 6th Micronesian Games.

Others include Leslie Copeland, Filipo Delai, Waisea Finau, Isireli Naikelikelivesi, Isiela Namosimalua, Rajendra Prasad, and Niko Verekatuta of Fiji; Beteri Ateri, Harry Highland, and Tekoaki Teieka of Kiribati; JJ Capelle of Nauru; Henry Ben, Mowen Boino, Lloyd Bureng, Andrew Doonar, Wally Kirika, Anton Lui, Fabian Niulai, and Andrew Yeweh of Papua New Guinea; Stellio Tauraa and Kader Touati of Tahiti; Setafano Mika of Samoa; Jack Iroga, Cris Walasi, and Francis Manioru of Solomon Islands; Aisea Vakameilalo and Esau Vakameilalo of Tonga, and Moses Kamut of Vanuatu.

The female competitors are Margaret Teiti and Teriapi Tapoki of the Cook Islands; Makelesi Bulikiobo, Soko Salaniqiqi, and Maria Tawake of Fiji; Mystique Jone of Nauru; Raphaela Baki, Betty Burua, Salome Del, Mae Koime, Cecilia Kumalalamene, and Toea Wisil of Papua New Guinea; Terani Faremiro and Veronique Boyer of Tahiti; Talava Tavui of Samoa; and Ana Po’hila and Latai Sikuvea of Tonga.

The Grand Prix Series will be strengthened by the addition of a strong team from North Australia who will compete in Fiji before heading to Samoa for the Championships. Amongst those athletes will be 100m under 18-champion Lars Hansen and under 18 javelin champion Rachel Phillips.

The Grand Prix squad will be accompanied by Nehemaia Kakauraka’atui of Tonga, Rianimarewe Betero of Kiribati, and Sophia Marai of Papua New Guinea, who make up the coach and management team.