Finals Next

Labasa College (LC) is sending a strong contingent to this year’s Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Finals commonly known as Coca-Cola Games) in Suva from April 30- May 2.

This was after LC dominated the boy’s di-vision of the Macuata Zone Two competition at Dreketi Central College ground yesterday. They collected 56 medals (both boys and girls divisions)- 24 gold, 18 silver and 14 bronze medals.

LC team manager Pardeep Maharaj said 89 students represented the school and their hard work resulted in their strong performance.

“The focus is now on the Coca-Cola Games,” he said.

Maharaj also acknowledged the efforts of their coaches Aminisitai Rokotuva and Lavenia Fotofili, which saw Year 10 student Malcolm Pickering receiving the Best Male Athlete award.

The 15-year-old student hails from Seaqaqa. He won gold in the sub-junior boys 400metres and was part of the 4x400m relay team that won gold.

“Competition was tough, but the hard training really helped us perform,” he said.

Pickering said the team trained for an hour every afternoon with new strategies being put in place by coach Rokotuva as it played a key role in their success.

He said they are looking forward to the Fiji Finals.

“This is my first year at Labasa College and my first time competing in the Macuata Zone Two meet,” he said.

Hosts Dreketi Central College took out the girl’s division.

Ba Methodist, Xavier triumph

Xavier College (XC) took out the boy’s division of the Ba Zone while Ba Methodist High School (BMHS) claimed the girl’s title at Churchill Park, Lautoka, yesterday.

XC collected 15 gold medals, 16 silver, 14 bronze to top the boy’s division followed by BMHS with 10 gold, 8 silver, 6 bronze med-als and in third spot was Nukuloa College with 6 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals.

In the girl’s competition BMHS collected 16 gold, 4 silver, 25 bronze medals to finish ahead of AD Patel College who had 13 gold, 15 silver, 15 bronze medals. XC finished third with 10 gold, 16 silver, 8 bronze med-als.

Overall (boys and girls combine), BMHS took top honours with 26 gold, 12 silver, 11 bronze medals edging out XC who collected 25 gold, 32 silver and 22 bronze medals.

Speaking to SUNsports, Ba Secondary Schools Athletics Association (BSSAA) president Hussein Shah said they have to go back to their history book to see when the last time XC was had been beaten.

“The schools had prepared early and that is why the competition was tough,” he said.

Shah said they have successfully executed the zone competition and are now focused on the Fiji Finals.

Competition guest Tafzeel Ali of Tafzeels Accounting and Taxation Services said: “Athletics is more than just running, jumping or throwing — it teaches valuable life skills such as teamwork, perseverance, respect and determination.”

He thanked the coaches, managers, officials, heads of schools and organisers for playing their role in developing young athletes.

Nakasi High, ACS top

Meanwhile, at the Triple N Zone, the boy’s competition was won by Nakasi High School with 20 gold medals,13 silver, 5 bronze while Adi Cakobau School again defended the girl’s title with 34 gold, 18 silver and 20 bronze medals.