THE much-anticipated Adi Cakobau School (ACS) inter-house athletics competition took place t at the HFC Bank National Stadium, marking the official start of the road to the Coca-Cola Games for the prominent all girl’s school.
Ravuama Latilevu, ACS’s media liaison officer, shared insights into the event and the school’s aspirations.
“The overall objective for today’s (yesterday’s) inter-house is to identify role talents, especially among the girls here at ACS,” Latilevu explained.
With the departure of senior gold medallists from previous years, the focus is now on nurturing promising runners from the junior grades, particularly new students in years 9 and 10.
ACS has a proud history at the Coca-Cola Games, having won the Girls Division consecutively in 2022 and 2023.
The school has demonstrated historical dominance in the competition, consistently winning or placing in the top three for many years, with a record exceeding 15 titles.
In 2025, ACS remained highly competitive, holding a top three position at the conclusion of the competition.
Latilevu acknowledged the challenge ahead: “It has been two years now since we have been girls’ champions. Last year showed improvement, and this year we aim to better our position in the medal tally.”
The school is keen on developing a strong team despite losing its senior athletes who have graduated.
A crucial step in ACS’s bid to regain dominance is the retention of former sprint queen Makelesi Batimala as the team’s head coach.
“Having Makelesi Batimala back as head coach is a significant advantage for our team. Her experience and leadership are invaluable as we strive to reclaim our top position,” he emphasised.
This year’s inter-house competition saw a robust participation of over 1,000 athletes, with heats designed to maximize involvement and allow coaches and managers to select the best talent for the upcoming season.
“We have ensured maximum participation from all the girls so that our team of coaches and managers have a broader selection option.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming NNN zone competition, ACS is determined to maintain its girls’ title and improve its medal count.
“Our goal is to get as many girls as possible to qualify for the future finals,” Latilevu added.
The event also celebrated continued community support, with special thanks extended to the school stakeholders.
