Beddoes had admitted he had targeted the 800m title which he successfully claimed yesterday, but seized the opportunity posed by the 1500m.

He emerged as the leader of a tightly contested race before sprinting to victory at the finish in 4min 3.13sec.

Papua New Guinea’s Messach Fred won the silver medal in 4:06.90, while Fiji’s Peni Petero Veitaqomaki took bronze in a time of 4:07.10.

Australia’s Steven Solomon broke a 22-year-old Pacific Games record in the men’s 400 metres as he surged to victory in 45.62sec.

The previous record of 46.42 was set by Fiji’s Koloveni Koroi back in 1997.

Papua New Guinea’s Daniel Baul placed second in 47.31, with team mate Benjamin Aliel third in 47.63.

There was further success for Papua New Guinea’s Toea Wisil, who sprinted to the 13th Pacific Games gold medal of her career.

The newly crowned 100m champion, who first competed at the Pacific Games in Samoa in 2007, earned the women’s 400m title in 53.90.

The defending champion was followed across the line by her team mate Leonie Beu, who won silver in 55.71.

Tahiti’s Takina Bernardino claimed bronze in 56.70.

Solomon Islands’ Sharon Kikini Firisua produced a dominant performance in the women’s 10,000m as she eased to victory in a time of 41:19.92.

Her nearest challenger Margaret Kuras of Vanuatu ended 55 seconds adrift in second place, while Firisua’s compatriot Dianah Matekali rounded off the podium in 42:27.90.

New Caledonia’s Eric Reuillard celebrated his birthday by further cementing his legacy as the Pacific Games’ pole vault star.

The 38-year-old clinched the title for the fourth time in his career by achieving a height of 4.60m.

Tahiti’s Timona Poareu also managed the height but an earlier foul forced him to settle for second place.

It was his second silver medal in 24 hours, following on from ending as the runner-up in the decathlon.

Tonga’s Kaisa Pakileata finished third on 3.50m.

While Reuillard bolstered his legacy, fellow New Caledonia athlete Erwan Cassier was living up to his late father’s, who was the winner of the event at the 1983 Pacific Games in Samoa.

Cassier won the men’s hammer throw with an effort of 57.19m, adding to his titles from Samoa 2007 and Port Moresby 2015.

His compatriot Petelo Toto threw 54.85m for silver, while Papua New Guinea’s Debono Paraka won bronze with an effort of 36.57m.

New Caledonia’s success in the field events continued as 16-year-old Lesly Filituulaga triumphed in the women’s discus with an effort of 45.41m.

Cook Islands’ Tereapii Tapoki and Tonga’s Ata Maama Tuutafaiva rounded off the podium with throws of 44.63m and 40.39m, respectively.