The Laucala Bay Athletics Club represented Fiji in the New Zealand Secondary School Athletics Championship in Christchurch on December 8 to December 10.
The team returned to Fiji with a gold and bronze medal – making not only their coaches, and managers proud but also their parents and supporters at home.
Loata Lewageena of Ratu Sukuna Memorial School bagged a gold medal in the junior javelin event – after competing with some of the best athletes from the host country.
Lewageena managed a throw of 39.75m during the competition.
She had competed with athletes from Rototuna High School, Craighead Diocesan School, Taieri College and Nayland College.
Also making the club proud was the senior girls 4x100m team.
They won bronze in the track event and were awarded a Bayleys (Real Estate Ltd) award of $NZ500 ($F691).
Championship junior girls javelin gold medalist, Loata Lewageena said she was placed fourth with a personal best throw.
“For me it was a new experience as it was the first time for me to travel overseas,” she said.
“The chilling low temperature at Christchurch made it difficult for us to adapt quickly.
“There were 10 of us that travelled to New Zealand with three officials.
“Vasiti Taka, who is also from Ratu Sukuna Memorial School, was with me too.
She took part in the shotput and discus events.
For Vasiti and I, it was a good learning experience.
“We learned a lot in terms of the intensity of the competition.
“Our school and club coach, Faizan Ali didn’t travel with us because of work commitments but he was able to give feedback via Viber during the competition from Fiji.
“He often called the officials who then advised us on our mistakes and what we needed to change or work on.”
She said their parents and family members frequently sent supportive messages that helped them through the competition.
“The club is planning to go to the championship again this year and we’re looking forward to participating again,” she said.
Moses Corerega, who ran in the sub-junior 200m and 400m, said it was his first time participating in the New Zealand Athletics Association Competition too.
“It is a good experience to represent my club, Fiji,” he said.
“It’s the first-time for me to travel overseas and the experience was good especially travelling together with the team, seeing new places, experiencing the culture and food too.
“We spent one week in Christchurch and I have learned a lot from the trainings and gym sessions.
“I want to thank our coaches, supporters and parents for the support.” Moses Corerega’s parent and a sports administrator, Lai Corerega (Jnr) said he supports any sports when it comes to developing young people in Fiji.
“Recently the exposure of my son in athletics at Christchurch has inspired me to request the Ministry of Education to include physical education as one of the mainstream curriculums,” he said.
“Sports is an industry now and remittances from sports has contributed greatly to Fiji’s economy.”
The athletes that travelled to New Zealand were Letiara Alfred, Moses Corerega, Claudie David, Waisiki Komainaiqoro, Loata Lewageena, Cilia Naivolasiga, Leila Sanday, Vasiti Taka, Christian Tolo and Adi Asenaca Tuipelehaki.
The athletes had been training together for the championship since the Coca-Cola Games last year.
