Bakaniceva, Wood Bag Three Medals For ISS

International Secondary School return to school on Monday content for their performance at the 2023 Coke Games in Suva after bagging three medals from the three-day meet.

Francis Bakaniceva after picking up the junior boys’100 metres gold on Friday (yesterday) returned to the HFC Bank Stadium today to claim the 200m silver medal.

“I’m honestly proud of myself, winning gold is something I’m proud of and winning silver is something that I’ll be working on,” Bakaniceva said.

The fifteen-year-old hails from Nausori, Tailevu and is part of the Suva based Royals Athletics Club.

“I’d like to dedicate my win to the man above who’s given me strength after a few accidents happened to me; He pushed me forward, gave the strength and speed to win especially my friends and family for pushing me.”

A taxi  had ran over Bakaniceva’s foot feet while he was walking along an enclosed road off Ratu Sukuna Road.

The incident kept him from training for three weeks.

“I stared running recently as I realised that I was a pretty strong runner with no training. Antonia Raboiliku was coaching a bit in ISS as a Physical Education teacher, he saw me ran and encouraged me to join the Royals Athletics Club,” he said.

ISS’s third medal was won by Emelia Lobendahn Wood when she won bronze in the Junior girls 200m finals.

“It was such a blessing to run against all these girls with such great talents given by God; we got to glorify Him in this race in front of this amazing crowd,” Wood said.

The Kuladrusi, Cakaudrove lass is also part of the Suva based Royals Atheletics Club, she aims to win more medals in the future.

“I’d like to thank God for this as He has been with me all the way. I’d like to thank coach Walsh and coach Toni especially my parents and friends,” she said.

Both the ISS athletes will now shift their attention to basketball as it is the sport they will both be raking up in the second school term.

200m Final Results

Sub-Junior:  Girls – Hephzipah Tuimanono 26.62s (SGS), Levana Agnes 27.16s (Immmaculate C) Pasemaca Bukalidi (ACS). Boys – Haggai Sukanaivalu 23.96s (MBHS), Ebenezer Saukuru 24.42s (MBHS), Ratu Aisea Kubunakaravi 24.87s (SGS). Girls- Lidia Waqairapoa 26.48s (MGM), Filomena Navula 27.10s (ACS), Emilia Lobendahn Wood 27.22s (ISS).

Junior:  Boys – Ratu Aporosa Lalabalavu 23.32s (MBHS), Francis Bakaniceva 23.40s (ISS), Asalusi Raloka 23.65s (Ba Sanatan). Girls – Frances Tuva 25.39s (ACS), Imeri Nasali 25.66s (ACS), Claudy David 25.88s (SGS).

Intermdiate:  Boys – Senirusi Rauqe 22.29s (QVS), Emosi Laqere 22.39s (MGM), Rt Penaia Ramasirai 22.57s (MGM).

Senior: Girls – Kesaia Boletakanakadavu 25.28s (MGM), Melania Ranadi 25.94s (ACS), Chloe David (SGS)s. Boys – Semesa Caginivalu 22.18s (SGS), Rt Alipate Vuiwakaya 22.19s (SGS), Iliesa Ratubalavu 22.58s (Cuvu).

Story By: Ioane Asioli

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