Ratu Kadavulevu School 100 and 400mteres sprinter, Kameli Sauduadua of Maafu house during their Inter-house in Lodoni on February 2018. Photo: Ronald Kumar.
Athletics Fiji president Joseph Rodan Snr said, Team Fiji student athletes should be given priority in representing their schools in this year’s Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics competition.
“They are not only the cream athletes of the Fiji Secondary Schools but for the whole of Fiji as well,” Rodan Snr said.
He said they had written to the principals of various schools advising them that their athletes would be competing in the Commonwealth Games.
“And also there is a clause in the Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Championship that states that if an athlete is selected to represent Fiji, in any major meet like the Commonwealth Games, then this athlete should be taken in to account and be allowed to compete in the Coke Games.”
Rodan Snr said these are the best athletes to represent Fiji and it would only be fair if they would be given a chance to compete in the Coca- Cola Games.
He had earlier indicated that the athletes would be leaving for Australia in two weeks time to compete in the Pre-Commonwealth Games competition.
Meanwhile, Ratu Kadavulevu School’s 400-metre runner Kameli Saudaudua said competing at the inter-house, zone and Coca-Cola Games is part of his preparations for the Commonwealth Games in April.
“This is a perfect platform,” the 19-year-old told SUNsports.
The Commonwealth Games will be on April 4-15 in Gold Coast, Australia.
Athletics Fiji chief development officier Joe Rodan Jnr said the competition has exposed a lot of young athletes who are very much- interested in furthering their career.
“Competition has increased over the years, so it’s best for these athletes to monitor their progress and even the slightest technical change can make a difference.”
Rodan Jnr said from last Saturday’s trials at Churchill Park, Lautoka, the best outstanding performances came from Aaron Powell in the open men’s 100m race with a time of 10.3sec,
Samu Railoa in the 400m clocked the time of 48.4 sec while Mustafa Fall had an unofficial record breaking shotput throw of 15.82, Eleina Young ran well in the women’s 200m final and Eugene Volmer was at his usual best in the triple jump event.
Also improving was long distance runner Avikash Lal of Nadi who won the 5000m and 1500m races during the trials.
- Edited by Leone Cabenatabua
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