Senirusi Rauqe of Queen Victoria School took out the blue ribbon event at the Coca-Cola Tailevu Zone at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva yesterday.
Rauqe, who switched to the 100m this year from the 400m, clocked an impressive 10.70s to win gold for his school.
Despite a slow start, the 2023 Coke Games 200m gold medallist powered through in the last 50m to deny his Ratu Kadavulevu School opponents.
QVS principal Timoci Vosailagi shared that Rauqe was dealing with a personal loss before the zone.
“He deserved the title because I think the young gentleman lost his dad a few months back, so most probably he used that as a motivation,” Vosailagi shared.
“We are thankful that he pulled through and it’s a big confidence boost to the Vulinitu camp.”
The Vulinitu camp is striving to end a long title-less drought in the zone.
“The athletes were told to give their best and at the same time give a good wrestle for the boys title.
“If I’m correct, QVS has a long drought of 10 years without a Tailevu Zone title and 31 years without the Coke Games boys title.
So, we are using that as a motivating push for all our athletes,” Vosailagi added.
Rauqe will compete in the 200m today. Meanwhile, in the senior girls 100m final, Bikoca Taginasedra of St Vincent College finished first to claim gold for her school.
After day one, RKS is leading the boys tally with 10 gold, 12 silver and seven bronze. QVS follows closely with 8 gold, four silver and six bronze while St Vincent is third with two gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
In the girls division, Tailevu North College leads with seven gold, six silver and eight bronze followed by St Vincent in second with four gold, three silver and five bronze medals.
Dawasamu Secondary School is third with four gold, three silver and a bronze.
The Tailevu Zone resumes today.
