Athletics Fiji got off to a good start winning their first gold medal of the championships with Heleina Young’s 12.03s in the final of the Open Women’s 100m. Unlike the Coke Games, the Open Women’s 100m was a straight final, no heats to have a feel for the track and soak up the atmosphere to use that to her advantage. Regardless, Heleina destroyed the field and came in 0.28s ahead of Australia’s Nicole Kay (12.31s, 2nd) and Vanuatu’s Roselyne Nalin (12.75s, 3rd).
Fiji’s second medal of the day came from Louisa Tubailagi who also showed impressive form as she breasted the tape 0.01s ahead of team mate Salote Baravilala in the final of the Girl’s U18 100m. Tubailagi clocked 12.71s to take 3rd place behind Australia’s Sophie White (12.19s, 1st) and Stephanie Welsh (12.20s, 2nd).
In the Open Men’s 100m finals, Livai Maravou finished 8th in a time of 11.31s while Jim Colasau failed to qualify for the final and settled for a mere 11.50s and a 2018 Melanesian ranking of 11th.
Story by: Eugene Vollmer