With less than a day to go until the 2024 Coca-Cola Games, the athletes, alumnae, and fans of Adi Cakobau School were shaken by the heartbreaking news of the passing of ACS’s former sprint queen, Alena Vadrasamu.
Sera Tuinalase, her teammate, and former senior girls 100m champion, mourned deeply for her sister in sport.
“My heart goes out to Lena’s family especially to her daughter Lice. My deepest condolences. Words of sympathy feel inadequate in expressing grief and sorrow for a loss so great. Lena was a strong woman, a fighter, a leader in her own rights. Lena and I were close because we shared so much in common,” Tuinalase said.
“We both love athletics, our struggles and our background were very similar, we toured together overseas for athletics meets, that’s why we were close. While attending boarding school in Sawani, from time to time we used to share about our experiences growing up and our future.
“Lena was always so focused especially with her preparations for the Coke Games, she was very straightforward, always ensuring everyone and everything are in check and in tune with each other, she was great and the best at what she does, she’s an inspiration.
“Lena was also a comedian, always making us laugh with her stories, her jokes, and her dance, she was fun to be around, a light wherever she goes.
“Lena, I miss you ‘lequ dreu’. You ran your race, and you ran it beautifully, you fought till the very end. The candle may go out, but the memory of its light remains. Your light will be in my heart when it gets dark. Rest now my dear friend,” Tuinalase said.
Vadrasamu’s daughter, Lice, will be making her debut for ACS in this year’s Coke Games and has received overwhelming support from her mother’s friends.
Tuinalase reassured Lice, saying, “Lice, ‘noqu lewa’, although mum is no longer with us, you know in your heart that she has already prepared you for this. You are stronger than you think you are, you will fight like she did, and you will get through whatever comes your way.
“Mum may not be there physically but her spirit lives within you, use that fire that’s burning within and carry that torch to the finish line, you got this, and she’s got you, always,” Tuinalase stated.
Tuinalase also extended her best wishes to the ACS squad for the upcoming games.
“To the ACS athletes competing for the Coke Games this week, from all the past year athletes and OGs of ACS, all the best ladies.
“You have done the hard yards; the race is almost over. You’ve been training so hard for this.
“Now the moment has arrived for you to show what all your practice has been leading up to. Please go out there and give it your all. I hope that you have a great game and come out feeling proud of yourself.
“No matter what happens, always remember how far you’ve come and how much you’ve learned along the way. Always together, always with God,” she added.
The ACS senior girls’ 4x100m relay team, consisting of Vadrasamu, Kelera Tabakaucoro, Alisi Naqiri, and Tuinalase, set a record of 49.14 seconds in 2008 that still stands today.
