Xavier's Head Boy Tops Zone with 3 Gold
“This is my first time to take part in long jump in the zone, I did not expect to break the zone record,” he said.
Friday 05 April 2024 | 13:04
Xavier College senior boy’s 4x100m relay team at Churchill Park, Lautoka on April 4, 2024. From left: Filimoni Matawalu, Ilisoni Koro, Pita Kuricuva and Penisoni Tirau. Photo: Sereana Salalo
Xavier College head boy and Pacific Games silver medallist, Penisoni Tirau continued his top form at the Ba Secondary Schools Zone competition, which ended yesterday.
Tirau, a Fiji Under-20 football rep broke the senior boy’s long jump record at Churchill Park, Lautoka.
He jumped a distance of 6.76metres, the record of 6.70m was set by Jone Sukulu five years ago.
The triple jump specialist fell short by eight centimetres to breaking his own record of 14.48m. Tirau jumped a distance of 14.35m.
He also won a gold medal with his 4x100m senior boy’s relay team.
Now the Nasukamai, Ra, native has set his eyes on the Fiji Finals next month.
“This is my first time to take part in long jump in the zone, I did not expect to break the zone record,” he said.
“I thank God for the talent he has given me from playing football to jumping and to win silver at the 2023 Pacific Games.
“I want to do better at the Coca-Cola Games and also at the Oceania Championship in June.
“This will be my last year in high school and I want to leave on a high note,” Tirau added.
The 18-year-old who also plays for the Ba football team wants to pursue aircraft engineering next year.
Meanwhile, Xavier College was crowned the overall champions of the zone competition.
They won 32 gold, 31 silver and 26 bronze medals Ba Sanatan College finished second with 14 gold, 13 silver and 12 bronze medals while AD Patel in third place winning 13 gold, 21 silver and 20 bronze medals.
Tirau was awarded the Best Male Athlete of the Ba Zone winning gold in all his three events. Ba Sangam’s Kinisimere Savui was the Best Female Athlete.
Story by: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj
