Our athletes continue to shine on the international scene at the start of the year. This time it is the athletes who detonate the Australian championships under 20 and open. Assessment: two gold and silver medals in particular. Eric Reuillard, director of performance at the Caledonian Athletics League, does not hide his satisfaction.
Caledonian athletes on the highest step of the podium during an Australian national championship, it is never trivial. In the west of the country, in Perth, Vadim Strougar drew out of the game at Decathlon by winning five of the ten events. He dominated the final of the 100 meters in 10 seconds 80, that of the 110 meters hurdles in 14 seconds 49 and 400 meters in 50 seconds 13. The young Caledonian also won in the length competition with 6m84, and that of the pole which he won by signing 4m70.
A good omen before the French championships in the category in early July, without forgetting the Worlds that he sets himself as a goal. “It is capable each time to impress on his commitment in competition and the performances he can often produce very important adversity and difficulty contexts”details Eric Reuillard, director of performance at the Caledonian Athletics League. “On Decathlon, there is obviously something that could allow him to access the international level. And he already pretended to aim for the junior world championships in 2026.”
Felise Vahai Sosaia also won the gold medal, but he added as a bonus the best French performance of the season to the Open Javelin. With 79m78 at its 4e Essay, he pocketed the title during these Australian championships and approached his 82m record made in 2023. “Felise realizes very close to the 80 meters on a reduced impulse. After having accumulated a lot of work at the end of 2024 and at the start of the 2025 season, he feels that he is again able to be very regular at the international level. So the title of champion of Australia and the matching performance confirms what we had been pressing in training for a few weeks.”
Also note, the title of vice-champion of Australia obtained by Aurore Manufekai at the launch of weight 4 kilos. She improved her best performance in the final three times to reach 14m73 at her 6e essay. “She had already broke her record twice in recent weeks in Caledonia. It was her first international trip, with the Australian championship, and she pulverized it three times during the final to get a beautiful silver medal and a new record at 14.73 meters. From the start she knows that she is targeting the title of French junior champion this summer with more than 15 meters.”
Finally note the 7e Place de Loan Ville in the final of the 400 meter Open hurdles and the 15 seconds produced by Florian Girard on 110 meters Open hurdles.
Martin Charmasson’s report:
© Nouvelaledonie
