With competition heating up at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau, all eyes are on track and field, as Vanuatu athletes prepare to enter one of their strongest events this Friday.

Day 3 of the Mini Games saw Vanuatu begin competition in aquatics, basketball 3-on-3, and table tennis, but Friday will bring the spotlight onto athletics — a sport where Vanuatu has previously excelled, especially in Saipan and the 2017 Mini Games hosted in Port Vila.

On Thursday, Vanuatu athletes completed warm-up sessions ahead of Friday’s main events, including the Merrick sisters, Chloe and Claudi, who will compete alongside the national athletics squad.

The final training sessions ran from Wednesday into Thursday, allowing athletes to sharpen their performance before competition day.

Friday is expected to be a tough but exciting challenge, with top track and field stars from across the Pacific set to compete. Many of the athletes are making their second Mini Games appearance, while others are young, rising talents from their respective countries.

As of now, Vanuatu is yet to win a medal at this year’s Mini Games — but with strong events coming up, hopes are high for a breakthrough in the medal tally by the end of the week.