Mataika Eyes Pacific Games Spot

When last year’s mid dis­tance senior boys’ cham­pion Setoki Turuva left Ratu Kadavulevu School for Natabua High School, his schoolmate Tuili Mataika knew he had big shoes to fill this year.

And he ticked that off from his list at the 2023 Coca-Cola Games when he outran Turuva, his for­mer relay teammate in the senior boys’ 400 and 800 metres.

Mataika won gold in both the events and picked up the bronze medal in the 4x400m relay.

He clocked a time of 48.72s and 1:58.53minutes in the 400m and 800m respectively.

The senior boys’ 400m record is 47.47 seconds set by Kameli Sau­duadua (RKS) in 2018 while the 800m senior boy’s record is held by Varasiko Tomeru (Marist Broth­ers High School) who set the 1:55.67min record in 2011.

Mataika has now set his focus at the Honiara Pacific Games in No­vember.

The Nananu, Tailevu native who shares maternal links to Namena said he is up for the challenge to represent Fiji at national level.

He is the third child of five.

“I started training during the off-season and have been doing that for 14 weeks,” Tuili said.

“My coach Marika Beitakivalu always ad­vised that I do not miss any training day. Al­though it was tough waking up early in the morning, it was all worth it.

“We had to go on strict diet as well.

“I will prepare for the PG which I hope to be my first outing for Fiji.”

Mataika also ran in the 2019 Coke games but he did not win any med­als.

He also hopes to play for RKS at this year’s Deans completion.

Mataika is a second year automo­tive engineering student at RKS and hopes to continue the same programme at Fiji National Uni­versity next year.

Meanwhile the PG will be held in the Solomon Islands from Novem­ber 17 to December 2.

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Story By: Sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj