The 2022 Coca-Cola Games ended with homecoming celebrations to Fiji secondary schools athletics giants Suva Grammar School and Adi Cakobau School at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva yesterday.
SGS, the lions of Veiuto woke up from an 11-year slumber to roar the loudest at the Laucala Bay sports complex.
The Veiuto-based school which gave birth to the Fiji Finals decades ago, stamped its mark in the reawakening of the South Pacific’s biggest annual athletics event after its two-year COVID-19 snub.
SGS won 11 gold medals, six silver and six bronze medals.
Adi Cakobau School, after winning a bronze on the first day, waltzed away with the crown by winning 13 gold medals, eight silver and eight bronze.
SGS finished second in the girls’ division winning four gold, seven silver and three bronze.
Former girls champion Jasper Williams High School finished third with four gold, two silver and a bronze.
In the boys’ division, Queen Victoria School bagged nine gold, five silver and seven bronze to finish second pushing defending champion Ratu Kadavulevu School to the third position after winning six gold, five silver and nine bronze medals.
SGS coach and former Fijian sprint king, Jone Delai, bowed out on a high note after 15 years as coach.
He paid tribute to the Suva Grammar family.
“Five years ago, we had a plan in place by the Grammar Rise Up (GRU),” Delai said.
“We planned and we had our ups and down, but after everything, it’s good to go back with victory again.”
He saluted the support from parents and old scholars.
“We succeeded through hard work of the athletes and the support from the old scholars, which were so great.
“The GRU is a force to be reckoned with. They took over and here we are.”
ACS head coach Antonio Raboiliku set another record for maintaining their win in his seven years as a coach.
“It was an overwhelming experience for the athletes and coaches to get to win again,” he said.
“Hats off to all athletes who took part. Without them, today’s (yesterday) victory would not have been like this.
“It will depend on whether ACS still needs my coaching next year. If they want me to continue, I will.”
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama closed the games, saying: “Making it to this stage is a huge achievement. You did your families proud. You did your school proud.”
(Additional reporting by WATA SHAW)
