Marshall Islands Athletics Marshall Islands Athletics Marshall Islands Athletics, also known as Marshall Islands Athletics Federation (MIAF) is the governing body for the sport of athletics in Marshall Islands. Athletes from the Marshall Islands participated already at the 1969 Micronesian Games, (the Marshall Islands then still being part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands,) and also after re-establishment of the Games in 1990. The foundation of MIAF is reported for 1987, as well as its affiliation to the IAAF in the same year. Melvin Majmeto served as president of MIAF. Current president is former shot putter and discus thrower Rais Aho.
History of the Marshall Islands History of the Marshall Islands Micronesians settled the Marshall Islands in the 2nd millennium BC, but there are no historical or oral records of that period. Over time, the Marshall Island people learned to navigate over long ocean distances by canoe using traditional stick charts. Spanish explorer Alonso de Salazar was the first European to see the islands in 1526, commanding the ship "Santa Maria de la Victoria", the only surviving vessel of the Loaísa Expedition. On August 21, he sighted an island (probably Taongi) at 14°N that he named "San Bartolome". On September 21, 1529, Álvaro de Saavedra Cerón