Triathlon Samoa successfully organised the biggest running event of the year, the Apia Half-Marathon and Team Relay, on Saturday, 9 August 2025.

The event saw fierce competition among 19 solo runners tackling the 21km course and another 138 runners in the relay, battling in 23 teams of six runners each. A crowd of family and friends there to cheer them on showcased a growing passion for running in our local community.  

The scenic course began at Mulinuu, winding through the heart of town following the seawall before reaching the turnaround point on the Matautu waterfront opposite Paddles Restaurant and then returning to the start. Participants of all ages embraced the challenge, cheered on by enthusiastic supporters lining the route. Solo runners completed three laps of the course while the team runners each had to run 3.5km with a baton before handing it over to the next person.

The event highlighted Samoa’s growing running culture, with participants ranging from elite athletes to first-time half-marathoners. The team relay added an exciting dynamic, encouraging camaraderie and teamwork.  

Immediately after the last runners crossed the finish line, a lively prizegiving ceremony was held to honour outstanding performers in both the solo and team categories.  55-year-old Darren Young's Ironman consistency and experience won the day as he held a comfortable lead to finish with a new course record of 1h 40 min. Newcomer Annalis Johnson took first place in the Women's race with her time of 2 hrs 11 min. The Forever Young Award for the oldest finisher went to another Ironman 68 year old Mathew Bracken, who bested much younger participants with his time of 2hrs 12 min. A special Endurance Award for the runner showing the most grit and determination in their first ever half-marathon went to 53-year-old Maotafono Apelu.

The relay was a crowd favourite, bringing together various offices, government ministries, schools, sports, friends and family teams. The overall winner was the Athletics Samoa Team, who blitzed the course with an impressive time of 1hr 30min. Their team of brilliant runners included sprint medallists from the 2023 Pacific Games and the recent Mini Games in Palau.

Winner of the Mixed Team Division, and also second place overall, was the Triathlon Samoa team, with the Mountain Runners coming in third.

Team Heartstrings, made up of three mothers and their young daughters, won the Nafanua Award for the first all-female team.

Additional prizes given were the Fiafia Award for Spirit to the team from the Samoa Qualifications Authority, and another to Team For Every Child.

"This was the second year of our event, and it's grown massively. We had nine teams last year, and then entries this time jumped to twenty-three. It was a tremendous success, bringing together athletes, families, and supporters in a celebration of fitness and community spirit," said a spokesperson for Triathlon Samoa. "We’re incredibly grateful to our sponsors, whose contributions help make this event possible while promoting wellness across Samoa. We look forward to making next year’s race even bigger!"  

The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of businesses committed to building stronger communities and healthier, happier families. Prizes were donated by, Haven Samoa, Rasmussen Engineering, Young Steel, Niu Pharmacy, Inalani Catering, Eveni Samoa.