Promising to do better this year, Ebenezer Saukuru of Marist Brothers High School went all out and created history during the 2024 Coca-Cola Games at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva last week.
Saukuru shattered a 20-year-old record in the junior javelin 700kg event that was held by Varayame Momo of Lautoka Andhra Secondary School in 2004.
Saukuru threw a distance of 54.59m, exceeding the old record of 54.08m.
With his seed throw of 54.57m exceeding the old record, he knew he would comfortably break Momo’s record at the Fiji Finals.
The determined young lad who hails from Naviyago Village in Ba with maternal links to Lomanikoro, Rewa not only won gold and broke a record in javelin, he also won gold in long jump and in the 4x100m relay.
He was also awarded the junior boys best athlete award at the athletics meet.
The all-rounder athlete felt that he deserved the gold medals he won and the record this year because he had worked really hard in training since the Suva Zone 2 meet.
“I felt I deserved it, especially for the hard work I’ve put out during training,” he said.
“I would like to dedicate this win to my two coaches Eugene Vollmer and Fesaitu Mario for teaching me the technique on how to jump.”
He said the training he undertook after the zone was one of the hardest his ever done.
Since he had three different events, his training was divided throughout the weekdays.
“My trainings were split for the week according to the events. I do my 4x100m training on Mondays, long jump training on Tuesdays and javelin training on Wednesdays.
“I managed to balance schoolwork and athletics because my mum told me to put school first.
“A week before Cokes I had to sit for my test, so I knew I would do well in athletics.
“My role model is my mum, Sainimili Saukuru. She is always motivating me.”
He said it was tiring having to juggle between two field and one track event – but it was all worth it in the end.
His message for to other athletes is to always put God first.
He now hopes to represent Fiji in the upcoming Oceania competition.
He also plays 15s rugby as a centre.
