Historic triumph: Cook Islands quartet shatters national record

The 2025 Jennian and Home athletics championships are held at the Caledonian Ground in Dunedin. They showcase New Zealand’s top track and field talents, including a dynamic team from the Cook Islands.

These athletes excel individually in their respective disciplines and unite as a team to break a long-standing national record in the men’s 4x100m relay.

Dubbed ‘the quartet’, the team consists of Piritau and Edward Nga, Daniel Tolosa, and Max Teuruaa.

In an interview with PMN Cooks, they describe their journey to this achievement as challenging, marked by personal struggles and teamwork issues.

They faced injuries and limited opportunities to train together, making their success almost miraculous.

“The relay was something we've been envisioning for a long time,” Teuruaa says. “We especially wanted to get a race outside of the Cook Islands and get one done electronically.

“Forming a team suitable for the 4x1 was quite hard. But us four boys being based in Auckland, we thought we got this,”

“We can put something together and build a strong team, and on the day, I guess through all the struggles we've had this season, three of us, particularly, we were able to put something together.’’

The previous record was set by a team in 1985 and broken by a team from Mauke during the Cook Islands Games in 2020.

Team Cook Islands. From left, Samasoni Hewitt, Edward Nga, Daniel Tolosa, Piritau Nga, and Max Teuruaa. Photo/Supplied

Now, this quartet has made history again in Dunedin in 2025.

“I think it's hard to get your mind wrapped around breaking that record, especially for how long it's been standing,” Piritau Nga says.

“Only one team has ever done it. And they've done it back in the Cook Island Games, 2020. It was hand-timed, though. That's the only team to ever do it since 1985.

Pacific athletes at the 2025 Jennian Homes New Zealand Track and Field Championships in Dunedin. Photo/Supplied

“Then, for us, electronic time is very different from hand time, and it's quite tough for us to think about breaking it electronically. But I think the moment I gave the baton to Dee, I gave the baton and I'm like, okay, we got the first baton change, we might have this.’’

Being the third team to break a national record speaks volumes about their training programmes, which have been designed to ensure consistent improvement with every performance.

Their preparation includes last-minute changes and pushing each other out of their comfort zones. Ultimately, they come together to achieve their goal.

Samasoni Hewitt setting a Cook Islands record by clearing 1.98 metres in the high jump. Photo/ Oceania Athletics Facebook Page.

‘’It's hard to be individual people and then come together and make a team, the fact that we're like this group that works together, that trust helps build that stronger relationship and I think together we're stronger,” Teuruaa says. “Even in this individual-based sport, we are stronger together.”

Other athletes from Team Cook Islands also excelled during the competition, with Samasoni Hewitt setting a Cook Islands record by clearing 1.98 metres in the high jump.

The teams' focus remains on completing their season with upcoming local competitions while they look ahead to the 12th Pacific Mini Games in Koror, Palau, from 25 July to 4 August this year.

Watch the group’s full interview on PMN Cooks below.