Central Fijian School’s senior sprinters took the Buckhurst Park track by storm when athletes from Fiji’s secondary schools competed in the 1977 games.
They won the boys and girls 100 and 200-metre events in fine style.
An article of the Fiji Times on April 25, 1977, said international Milika Odro and Etuate Gusunivalu turned on terrific performances as they took their events in the senior grade.
Odro was challenged by Lautoka zone’s champion, Mere Lomaloma, in the 100m but managed to shrug her off as she romped home in 13.8sec.
In the 200m event Odro had the race all the way as she convincingly beat Akeneta (RSMS) to the tape in 28.4sec.
In the boy’s senior sprints, Gusuivalu routed all opposition to take the 100 and 200-metre events in 11.7sec and 23.9sec respectively. But newcomer to the senior grade Nemani Kavuru (RKS) astounded all, as he held off Gusuivalu’s strong challenge in the relay to lead his team to victory.
Junior sprint winner Noa Bavai could not match the opposition from the Tailevu and Nausori zones and managed a second place in the 100m and 200m events — pulling out with an injured leg muscle.
His schoolmate Suliasi was in fine form as he stormed through to take both the intermediate sprint events. Competition was very keen despite the heavy track and records toppled, in the boys sub-junior 200 metres all three first place getters in the three separate heats broke the record in succession.
The old record of 29.1sec, set the previous year at Lautoka by Nabua Secondary School athlete Luke, was broken by Mesake (Yasawa-28sec) Darai (LMS-28sec) and Peni Seru (SGS), who set the best time of 27.9sec.
In the sub-junior girl’s 50m events Teresia (Lomeri) slashed 0.22sec off the record of 7.4sec from the previous record set by Vasemaca of JWSS.
Although the heavy track took its toll on some competitors, the overall performance was high. For, probably, the first time in secondary school athletics an Indian girl appeared in the limelight.
In the senior 800m event, Sarita of Ra Junior Secondary School ran a spirited race and the third place getter 10 yards behind.
The open boy’s pentathlon was won by Meli Saubulinayau (MBHS) with a tally of 2220 points.
Former RKS speedster Kaminieli Aria, who also took part in the pentathlon, could not match up to the skill of other athletes in the event.
Although he took the 200m event in fine style, he was no threat to the other athletes in the 1500m and the field events, in which he failed badly.
Unlike other years, Marist Brothers High School did not have a good day, but spectators and athletes alike showed true sportsmanship as they applauded the winners, regardless of school. Niusawa Junior Secondary School, who fielded 12 athletes went back with two certificates.
One of the main problems in the relay was the baton changes, some school’s tended to wait for runners with the baton to reach them before they started running.
This gave the advantage to schools who executed their changes well. Among those who showed good changes were Suva Grammar, who won the senior boys 4x 100m relay.
MBHS needed faster runners to make the most of their baton changes.
The article said with the abundance of talent in Fiji, athletics should be well represented at the next South Pacific Games to be held in Suva in 1979.
Sprinters Gusuivalu and Rabou both said they were now concentrating on training for the Games.
