Pacific sprint king Banuve Tabakaucoro says while age is catching up on him, he still has a lot to give to the sport.
Turning 30 this year, the ‘Bua Bullet’ has qualified for the Pacific Mini Games which will be held in Saipan, Northern Marianas in June.
“I’m turning 30 this year. Realistically I’m thinking I have another four or five years left in me. But again that’s not my timing, I’m gonna leave everyting in God’s hands right now.
“I’ve said it every year – I’m just going to go out there and put my best foot forward and do my best for my country. And what ever comes my way I’ll accept it. But when I get out there I know I’ll always come back with something.”
Tabakaucoro ran 10.74 seconds in the 100 metres during the Athletics Fiji weekly competition last month and is beginning to find his form.
He said he would prefer to race abroad where there were competitors who ran similar times.
“Right now my fitness is at its peak, it’s just competitions that I need right now,” said Tabakaucoro, who ran a time of 10.70 seconds during the Tokyo Olympic Games last year.
“The next preparation plan is to get a lot of competitions, which means more races. When I say more races, it’s more races in Australia where athletes are running faster than me or at my speed.
“So I’m really looking forward to heading over there and getting all those competitions in.”
Meanwhile, joining Tabakaucoro at the Pacific Mini Games are five other athletes who have also qualified.
Among them is women’s sprinter Younis Bese, who ran a time of 12.65 seconds in the 100 metres last month.
On Friday night, she made her debut appearance for the Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua in their win over the NSW Waratahs during in the Super W competition in Australia.
Also in the team are high jumpers Malakai Kaiwalu and Francis Kaiyava, and javelin throwers Jone Tikoisuva and Amenia Veisa.
