Natabua High School’s sprinter Nemani Mudrelagi once again retained the blue ribbon event during the first day of the Lautoka Yasawa Athletics Zone meet at Churchill Park yesterday.

The 2019 Coca-Cola Games senior boy’s 100 metres silver medallist took out gold with a time of 10.63 seconds ahead of Jolame Vunisa (10.67s) of Ba Provincial Freebird Institute who settled for silver while the bronze medal went to Natabua High School’s Solomoni Korovulavula (11.20s).

“Good to win again here but there is a long road to the Coke Games,” Mudreilagi said.

“There is a lot to be done. Competition has stepped up and I’ve been in good shape.”

He comfortably won the senior boys 200m heat securing his place in today’s final.

In the senior girls, Jasper Williams High School speedster, Vika Bavui took out the girl’s event with a time of 10.95s, ahead of Litia Daveta of Drasa Secondary (13.12s) and Seinimilika Radrudru (JWHS) who settled for third spot.

The Navosa native also qualified for today’s 200m senior girl’s finals after she opened up a lead of about 30m from the second placed runner in the heats.

“This is my first time to run in the 100 metres, I’ve been a 200m specialist. I took up 100m due to lack of senior girls at the school. It was a blessing in disguise,” the Year 12 student said.

RECORDS

Two records were broken on Day One. Central College Lautoka’s Meresiana Fugawai who set the sub junior girl’s shot put record of 10.26m. The old record of 10m was from Losana T of NHS.

Mohammed Ahmed of NHS threw 27.54m in the junior boys discuss to erase the previous record of 26.83m.

Zone president Jupendra Narayan said the weather was great and 11 schools including Yasawa High School took part.

MEDAL COUNT

NHS leads the boy’s division with 15 gold, 9 silvers, 3 bronze medals, Tilak High School are in second place with 3 gold medals, 3 silvers, 3 bronze while Lautoka Andhra Sangam School are in third spot with 2 gold and 4 silver medals.

In the girl’s division, defending champions JWHS are leading with 15 gold medals, 7 silvers, 5 bronze, NHS are in the second spot with 5 gold medals, 5 silvers, 2 bronze, while St Thomas High School are in third spot with 4 gold medals, 5 silvers and 4 bronze.

Competition continues today

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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