Fiji Secondary School Athletics Association (FSSAA) president Marika Uluinaceva says the HFC Bank Stadium athletics track urgently needs to be repaired.

Speaking to SUNsport Uluinaceva said, “We have an issue because we cannot go to Lautoka, our logistics for the games concludes that Lautoka is too small for the Fiji Secondary School Athletics Association meet.” 

“We need space to station a warm-up area, a tent area and also the spectators – everything to stay at the stadium; at the moment one of the problems of the Suva stadium is the state of the tracks.

“They are in really bad need for repair.”

It has been 10 years since the last time the all-weather track had the synthetic tracks replaced.

The tracks were done up between 2012-2013.

The initial installing of the synthetic surface was in 1979 in time for the South Pacific Games hosted by Fiji.

“We have dialogued with the Fiji Sports Council and Government for a workable solution in the future,” he said.

“Running on the smooth surface area (rubber) in the rain is a nightmare as the spikes (runners) must latch on to the tracks (firm grip) especially during the downpour on Thursday and Friday.

“Water was on the track; the tracks were slippery and could have possibly cause injuries to runners.

“There is an urgent need for maintenance especially as we prepare for two big games coming up including the South Pacific Games in November in the Solomon Islands.

This year’s competition saw Marist Brothers High School as the new boys champs while Adi Cakobau School defended the girls’ division.

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