Two Naitasiri schools dominated the Triple N Zone’s open grade 3000 metres finals at the ANZ Stadium, Suva, yesterday.

Lomaivuna Secondary School’s Nacanieli Liti won the boy’s gold medal while Vilimaina Naitukinivalu of Naitasiri Secondary School took out the girl’s grade.

The schools have taken an early lead on the medal tally.

“There is no turning back now I’m going to chase for my school’s first Coca- Cola Games gold medal,” Naitukinivalu said after clocking 11:55.13minutes.

“I had worked hard for this win and it doesn’t end here,” she said.

“Training in the highlands has its ups and downs so that all contributed to this win.

“The win was good but I’ll have to put in the extra yards for the big one.”

She added the win has boosted her preparations for the Coke Games.

“I came fourth in 2019 but missed out last year because of the pandemic.

“I want to work on decreasing my time and increasing my pace in the Coke Games.

“It’s all about commitment and sacrifice now for me moving forward,” she said.

Similar sentiment was echoed by Liti.

After missing out in the 2019 and 2020 Coke Games, the 17-year-old is optimistic of winning his first gold medal.

The Natavea, Naitasiri native ran an impressive time of 10:38:90 minutes.

Nacanieli said he will work on improving his time. The Coke Games is a different competition. My work starts now,

“I need to run more in the morning, midday and in the evening. To accomplish the mission the hard yards and sacrifice begins today,” he said.

Nacanieli said he doesn’t want to go and make up the numbers but to win a gold medal for his school and family.  The Triple N Zone continues today.

Records fall at Nasau Park

Four records were shattered on day one of the Coca-Cola Lomaiviti Zone athletics schools competition at Nasau Park, Ovalau yesterday.

The new zone records all came in the field events.

• Litia K of Gau Secondary leaped 4.99 metres in the senior girl’s long jump;
• Harry of Levuka Public recorded 5.73m in senior boy’s long jump;
• Unaisi T of St John’s College recorded 9.73m in the senior girl’s triple jump;
• Erika T of SJC recorded 1.43m in the Inter Girls High Jump.

Meet manager Arieta Mataitoga Banuve said previously known as the Ovalau Zone, this was changed in 2019.

“We changed the name to Lomaiviti Zone after Gau Secondary School joined the competition in 2019,”she said.

Banuve said competition was on schedule and students are looking forward to the second day today.

Levuka Public School leads the medal tally with 16 gold medals, 16 silvers, 11 bronze followed by  Gau Secondary with 10 gold, 6 silvers,7 bronze medals.

In third place is Saint John’s College with 8 gold medals, 11 silvers, 13 bronze while Delana Methodist High School collected 8 gold, 9 silvers, 11 bronze medals.

Competition continues today.

(Report by Osea Bola)

Macuata finals today

The Macuata Zone Two athletics competition concluded its first day of competition at the Labasa Muslim Secondary School ground in Wailevu yesterday with athletes vying for a place in the Coca-Cola Games.

Zone Two secretary Ronil Ram said this year’s competition was quite different as both the teachers and students were uncertain of the event happening due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath caused by Tropical Cyclones Yasa and Ana

Regardless of this, Ram said it was quite encouraging to witness the effort put in by the participants as the COVID-19 restrictions limited the students from training properly.

“Seven schools are currently taking part in the competition,” he said. Competition continues today.

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