The oldest competitor in the 5000m race, 52-year-old  Darren Young has shown how it is done as he finished the race with a gold medal in a time of 20.01 minutes during the Samoa Games athletics competition at Apia Park on Saturday.

The triathlete is among those 12 who are boycotting the triathlon event at the Samoa Games. The triathletes have entered various track events to compete.

Triathletes dominated in the 5000m track race at the Samoa Games, winning first place for both the Men’s and Women’s divisions.

Young led the pack from the start with a blistering pace. No stranger to the Apia Park track, others from Young’s generation will remember cheering for him at high school athletics when he was a star runner for Samoa College.

“It’s been a long time since I raced on this track,” said Young.

“It’s good to be back. Only this time I’m racing as a triathlete and as a running coach with a great group of young athletes. I’m looking forward to the day when one of them catches me out there,”

There was a battle for the silver and bronze. In second place with a time of 21.52, was the youngest member of the triathlon squad, 15-year-old Tyreece Collins from Afega.

He’s been a dedicated runner and cyclist with his father since he was small and his athletic talent has him being noticed by several different sports besides triathlon.

“He’s such a good runner,” said Ah Chong Sam Chong, the National Coach for Athletics Samoa.

“Amazing he’s running times like this and he’s only 15.”  

A close third was 19-year-old triathlete Gideon Mulitalo with 22.42min.

In the Women’s division, 19-year-old Patricia Brooks took gold with 26.31 minutes, followed by Grace T with 28.33, and Manamea Schwalger in third place with 28.35.

In what could be a historic first for Samoa athletics national trials and the Apia Park track, the 5000m race saw six Samoan women compete.

“I’ve been involved in long-distance running in Samoa for more than thirty years, and I’ve never seen this many local women runners in the 5000m,” said Young.

“It’s hard to get our people to commit to long-distance running because of the training that’s required. It takes years to improve. I’m glad to work with this young squad of triathletes and to see them so dedicated.”