IN three days they fought their best but in the end Adi Cakobau School clinched the girls title while Natabua High School edged stiff competition from Ratu Kadavulevu School and Marist Brothers High School to win the boys’ division of the 2017 Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Finals.

ACS’ 55 athletes had the best vocal support at the ANZ Stadium with their fans comprising almost half of the grandstand and spread sporadically across the embankment.

The school’s theme this year is “The Year of Restoration” and winning the national athletics championship is one of the targets.

ACS vice-principal and team manager Laniana Tawake said they came with an underlying aim to improve their performance from last year.

“First I would like to acknowledge God’s power, his divine intervention, and his empowerment that enabled us to win this three-day competition,” Tawake said.

“It was an honourable victory for us and we not only achieved our aim but we conquered as well and we got back the victory for ACS.

She said the quality and the level of the preparations made the difference.

Also she acknowledged and thanked their head coach Antonio Raboiliku, the athletes, the coaching staff, the former students and the whole ACS family for their collective contributions and efforts to their campaign.

“Our preparation was holistic not only physically but mentally and more importantly spiritually and that makes a difference for our team.” Natabua head coach John Iroa said they had a plan coming in to the games and that was to match and compete in areas where they lacked in last year’s campaign.

“We not only represent Natabua High School we represent the West, it’s a long and slow journey back home but this is good for the West,” Iroa said.

He thanked and acknowledged all the Natabua families, athletes, former scholars, teachers and their coaching staff for their support during their preparation leading up to the games.