Athletics Fiji held their first of three Mini SPG trials over the weekend. Athletes braved the wet and cold Suva weather vying for a chance to book their spot on the Athletics team to the mini games in Vanuatu in December. The Trailblazers club, a fairly young club that was established in 2014 showed why they were the number one athletics club in Fiji with most of their top notch athletes coming out and dominating most of the open grade events.
Aaron Powell continued his winning form winning the open men’s 100m and then breaking the 60m national record later in the day stopping the clock at 7.12s and will be looking to better that time at the Asian Indoor Games. Sigatoka Methodist College student Petero Veitaqomaki, running under the Trailblazers banner out ran Coke games champion and club teammate Kameli Sauduadua in the open men’s 800m in a time of 2mins 04.71s. Mustafa Fall again continued his dominance in the throws winning the open men’s shot put and discus also new found triple jumper Belasio Waqadau won the open men’s triple jump bounding out to 14.24m while high school sensation and 2017 number 1 ranked Shawntell Lockington improved her season’s best to a 1.68m coming in 2cm short of Mereani White’s national record of 1.70m.
Not to be outdone, Jetrunners club teammates Samuela Railoa and Avikash Lal also showed impressive form. Railoa won the open men’s 400m and 200m in a time of 48.62s and 22.64s respectively making him the most consistent 400m runner recording more sub 49s 400m than any other 400m runner in Fiji for the past 2 years. Avikash on the other hand pushed his limits to run an impressive 9mins 08.30s in the 3000m that has earned him the 8th best 3000m runner all time in Fiji. Lone hurdler Errol Qaqa of the Laucala Club clocked a season best of 15.81s while Makereta Naulu regained her number 1 spot in the women’s 100m clocking 12.70s to beat Elenoa Sailosi and Braelynn Yee. Like Samuela Railoa, Elenani Tinai also dominated the women’s 400m and 200m in a time of 59.84s and 26.24s.
Athletics Fiji is hoping to see an improvement of performances this week at the Fiji Games and an increase in athlete participation.
For competition results click here, for the latest and updated 2017 national ranking click here.