Team Fiji moved up to third place on the Pacific Mini Games medal standings after Day 6 of competition on Saturday in Palau.
Fiji sits in third with 18 gold, 24 silver, and 19 bronze medals.
Australia also has 18 gold medals but is in fourth place with lesser silver and bronze medal count.
Team Fiji athletics blazed the tracks in their respective events on Saturday night.
Waisale Inoke claimed gold in the Men’s Octathlon while Reki Roberts won gold in the Women’s Heptathlon
Inoke who studies and trains in the United States of America completed eight events, finishing first in the 100m, long jump, shot put, 100m hurdles, and javelin while settling for second place in the 400m and high jump. He accumulated a total of 4,927 points.
“I’m so grateful,” he said.
“I wan to dedicate this medal to my family back at home for supporting and praying for me.”
Roberts posted a total of 3,613 points after dominating the high jump, shot put, 200m sprint, long jump, and 800m. She was third in the 100m hurdles and javelin.
“Thanks to all of my family, my aunties and uncles from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and America, they all helped me get here today. It’s been hectic trying to get here so I’m grateful to them and likewise to Team Fiji and all of our friends and family because without them I wouldn’t be here today,” she said in an interview with Team Fiji after receiving her gold medal on Saturday.
Still in athletics, rising star and Sera Nasilivata claimed bronze in the women’s 100m as well as Waisake Tewa in the men’s who crossed the finish line with a time of 10.60seconds.
Natabua High School’s Adi Ceva Lutumailagi won silver in the Women’s 800 meters final with a time of 2 minutes 18.47 seconds while Heleina Young and Naibena Tuilawaki have qualified for the Women’s 400 meters final which will be held today.
Naibili Vatunisolo won gold in the Women’s Javelin Throw Para Ambulant.
She threw 21.96m with 69.69% accuracy.
