'Wear The Right Spikes' Says Tafo'ou

Parents of as-piring athletes will have to dig deeper into their pockets since only track shoes with certain spikes are allowed to be worn on the newly refurbished tracks at the HFC Bank Stadium, Suva.

Track shoe spikes for the running events must have a maximum of 7mm (millimetre) while for throwing events it is 9mm.

Fiji Sports Council officer and Athletics Fiji sprint coach Bola Tafo’ou told SUNsports yesterday that athletes wearing track shoes with the Pyramid and Christmas Tree spikes would be allowed to participate. However, he said athletes wearing track shoes with needle spikes are not allowed on the track, let alone participate.

Tafo’ou has urged all schools and student athletes to wear the appropriate spikes when participating at the stadium’s newly refurbished tracks.

“To the schools that are preparing to come and run at the HFC Bank Stadium tracks in the future, please advise your students not to wear track shoes with needle spikes.”

Tafo’ou said the reason why track shoes with needle spikes are disallowed because it would damage the tracks.

“I’m responsible for the inspection for the track shoes spikes at the marshalling area and those students found with needle track shoes will have to take it off.

Please be prepared when you come and do adhere to the rules to avoid disappointment, he said.

Tafo’ou said students who ran barefoot or with socks would experience the heat absorbed by the rubber of the newly refurbished tracks.

“It’s okay for the students to run barefoot but the heat will be a problem for them. I urge the students to come with the right spikes (Pyramid and Christmas tree) not the needle spikes.”

Feedback: ioane.asioli@fijisun.com.fj