Leaving Waidina College in the highlands of Naitasiri to journey down to the Capital City for the Triple N Zone athletics competition is the tale for its more than 30 athletes taking part in the two-day meet.

The student athletes left the school at midday on Wednesday for the Capital and a handful of them were at their team tent in the Buckhurst Grounds when this newspaper caught up with them.

The Waidina athletes are taking part primarily in the shot put event while others are in the track events.

Speaking on behalf of the team, athlete Luke Lesumaiositerelia explained the essence of the team’s aim coming into the meet.

“We came to Suva in a carrier, we left the school at 12pm yesterday (Wednesday) and we reach the place where we are billeted in after 3pm or nearly 3.30pm,” the young athlete recalled.

The team is billeting at the Lomaiviti Hall for the duration of the zone athletics meet.

Meanwhile, he added the team had prepared diligently in a timeframe of a month and two weeks.

“That (one month and two weeks) was how long we prepared and we are now seeing the results of such a preparation and training period taking shape,” he added.

Being geographically isolated may be a common challenge faced by teams travelling from the far-flung rural areas, however for the Waidina athletes they attributed changing weather conditions instead.

“The change in weather was one challenge, some of us fell sick however we are thankful to our teachers for supporting us and being encouraging in ensuring we carried out the work today and tomorrow (today),” he said.

Lesumaiositerelia acknowledged the support of families and supporters in extending a helping hand to getting the Waidina team to Suva for the Triple N meet.